South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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H. 3737

STATUS INFORMATION

House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. May, McCabe, Dabney, Trantham, Haddon, McGarry and Forrest
Document Path: l:\council\bills\df\13000cz21.docx

Introduced in the House on January 27, 2021
Currently residing in the House Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions

Summary: Remove federal impediments towards the implementation of a jamming system within correctional facility

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/27/2021  House   Introduced (House Journal-page 54)
   1/27/2021  House   Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions (House Journal-page 54)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/27/2021

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT S. 952 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION TO REMOVE THE FEDERAL IMPEDIMENTS TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A JAMMING SYSTEM WITHIN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

Whereas, the South Carolina Department of Corrections strictly prohibits the use of cell phones by an inmate within a correctional facility. The use of cell phones by an inmate has become a public safety issue throughout South Carolina and was declared a state emergency by Governor Henry McMaster; and

Whereas, a cell phone allows the inmate to work beyond their physical confinement and continue to operate a criminal enterprise from behind bars; and

Whereas, Captain Robert Johnson, a former correctional officer, has been repeatedly attacked by those connected with inmates through a cell phone and one inmate ordered a hit on him after his contraband team seized a package stuffed with cell phones, chargers, and SIM cards, paying another man six thousand dollars to enter his home and kill him. Despite being shot six times, he thankfully survived; and

Whereas, an inmate at the Kirkland Correctional Institution used a cell phone to carry out attacks on various victims in Columbia, including a woman he previously dated. While serving a ten year sentence, he arranged for others to shoot at her car and home as well as set her car on fire; and

Whereas, cell phones are believed to have contributed to the events that led to the 2018 prison riot at Lee Correctional Institution. The inmates were able to communicate and coordinate targets on rival inmates. The riot led to the death of seven prisoners and is one of the most violent prison riots in the history of the United States; and

Whereas, although jamming cell phone signals is considered the best solution to end this public safety issue, the Communications Act of 1934 prohibits a state or local government from intentionally blocking communications. S. 952 of 2019 was drafted to specifically address this hazard and the passage of this or similar legislation has the potential to save the lives of the citizens of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorialize the United States Congress to enact S. 952 or similar legislation to remove the federal impediments towards the implementation of a jamming system within a correctional institution.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.

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This web page was last updated on January 28, 2021 at 3:34 PM