Inmates are increasingly using mobile phones despite them being banned in prisons, with social media showcasing their lives behind bars. In Nantes, incidents of smuggled devices have surged, with packages thrown over walls and delivered by drones. Last year, around 1,200 phones were confiscated, but this is likely only a fraction of what’s in use. The government is working to enhance jamming technology and conduct thorough inspections to combat this issue, which poses significant security risks.
Inmates Using Mobile Phones: A Growing Concern
Social media has become a window into the lives of inmates, with many sharing videos of cooking recipes and snapshots from their prison cells. This trend highlights a serious issue, as mobile phones are officially prohibited within prison walls. However, a significant number of inmates are successfully sneaking devices into their facilities and concealing them, illustrating a concerning breach of security.
Rising Incidents of Smuggled Phones in Nantes
The situation in Nantes has escalated recently, with a notable spike in incidents. On Christmas Day alone, approximately 200 packages were hurled over the prison walls, while some deliveries were even executed via drone, landing directly outside cell windows. These packages have included not just smartphones, but also weapons and drugs.
Local residents have adapted to this alarming trend. One woman remarked, *”Since we’ve been here, there must have been easily two drones. I believe they caught someone who made the delivery.”* Another driver noted the presence of groups of young people gathering late at night near the prison barrier, engaging in activities like package throwing and projectile launching.
Last year, nearly 1,200 mobile phones were confiscated at the Nantes prison, yet this figure likely represents only about 10% of the total number in circulation. Despite existing measures aimed at curbing phone usage, they have proven largely ineffective. William Cozic, a union representative for FO Justice, stated, *”Today, we have jammers that detect, but technology is advancing so fast that our administration is always a bit behind. We are completely powerless, apart from post-searches.”*
Government Efforts to Address the Issue
The situation in Nantes serves as a microcosm of a broader issue impacting prisons across France. While intercepting packages remains a challenge, direct inspections of cells are essential for uncovering hidden devices. Recently, a team was able to document one such operation, resulting in the discovery of a mobile phone.
One proposed solution is the enhancement of jamming technologies to render mobile phones unusable within prison confines. Currently, this system is operational in only 18 out of France’s 186 correctional facilities. The Justice Minister has expressed a commitment to expanding this technology across all penitentiary establishments to prevent inmates from continuing illegal activities like drug trafficking or orchestrating crimes while incarcerated. He announced plans for *”clean slate”* operations to tackle these issues, akin to initiatives against drug trafficking.
Union representatives are advocating for increased resources to combat this problem effectively. Wilfried Fonck, the national secretary of UFAP-UNSA Justice, emphasized, *”We are short-staffed. We cannot limit ourselves exclusively to certain detention sectors in specific establishments. We need to search all structures; otherwise, it makes no sense.”*
Since 2018, the French Ministry of Justice has invested over 100 million euros in efforts to eliminate mobile phones from prisons. It’s crucial to note that possessing a mobile phone in prison can lead to an additional five years of imprisonment, compounding existing sentences.