ODOC combats contraband cellphones with state-of-the-art technology

The following statement is in response to a recent Oklahoma Voice article.

Contraband, especially cellphones, are a threat to public safety. This is why the Oklahoma Department of Corrections works diligently daily to mitigate contraband introduction to our facilities. We also partner with other law enforcement entities to combat criminal activity using state-of-the-art technology.

Beginning in early 2022, ODOC implemented technological security efforts to counter the use of cellphones within prison facilities, such as signal jammers at specific locations, using drive-by perimeter scanners, and continuously monitoring and rendering cellphones useless. ODOC bricked 3,445 cellphones in 2023, while old-school methods of searching and seizing resulted in confiscating more than 10,000 phones in 2022 and 2023. ODOC Intelligence extracted information from 773 phones for ODOC and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs to assist in criminal investigations. They also assisted the Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and local sheriff and police departments by extracting information from cellphones in 80 criminal cases.

“OBNDD is grateful to ODOC for their proactive security strategies targeting new and emerging cellphone trends by inmates. The deployment of these measures to cut off outside communications has prevented numerous defendants in OBNDD drug trafficking investigations from continuing to seamlessly operate their criminal organizations while behind prison walls. Additionally, these steps have allowed OBNDD and ODOC to identify and stop several homicides, human trafficking, and other violent acts ordered by inmates through contraband cellular devices.”  – OBNDD Director Donnie Anderson

ODOC’s and other law enforcement entities' efforts and partnerships stop criminal activity as soon as possible and, ultimately, keep the public safer.