u/ScottGTO

Before I get started, I'm not aware of a prison or jail that allows inmates to possess cellphones and that a cellphone or communication device in an inmate's possession is considered to be contraband. The inmate is subject to disciplinary action and or new criminal charges against them. Any staff member or civilian involved in supplying a cellphone, components of a cellphone or a communication device that has not previously been approved by the institution is also subject to receiving criminal charges and or imprisonment. But there are some transitional centers and or halfway houses that do allow inmates to legally possess cellphones but that's because those inmates are nearing the end of their sentence and are in the process of transitioning back into society.

Some institutions do allow and supply monitored tablets to inmates. Also I want to be clear that I myself have never been involved in the process of getting any contraband into an institution. Usually this is orchestrated by gangs and I'm not interested in being involved in that lifestyle. It's just not for me. I'm just here to tell you about the topic.

Officers & Staff: The most common way of getting cellphones and any other contraband into an institution is through correctional officers or other staff members. Many times they're the most successful and simplest means of getting whatever contraband an inmate wants into the institution because they can often be bribed, coerced or in extreme scenarios extorted to bring contraband into the institution. I don't believe the extortion route is very common though and I'll explain why. I've been to several institutions during my time in and I've seen cellphones range in price from four hundred to two thousand bucks. Now keep in mind that these are prepaid cellphones that are bought outside of the institution for about fifty each. So with a markup like that you can see that there's plenty of money available to bribe an officer or staff member into smuggling them into an institution. Those higher prices also go for anything else that's smuggled into the institution as well. Officers and staff members are usually reliable because they can work their way into an institution sometimes through ways that aren't heavily monitored or they may even work together with other staff members that are in charge of monitoring and intercepting things such as contraband. It's definitely not unheard of for an officer to be working an entrance into the prison and to allow another officer to slip through the regular screening process. Especially if both or all of them are on the payroll of the inmate who's orchestrated the transaction. It doesn't take many cellphones being smuggled into an institution to have a lot of funds to bribe staff members with much more than their regular salary pays them.

Outside Work Details: common way of smuggling contraband into an institution is through inmates on outside work details. I'm sure you've probably seen inmates on the side of the roadways, at parks or other public and privately owned government properties picking up trash or doing something that helps to maintain that property in some way. Well it's very common for these inmates to introduce contraband into institutions every single day that they go outside of the prison to work somewhere. Sometimes this is things that they find on their own while out working or they'll work with people on the outside to purposely plant contraband in places the inmate will be at. The inmate will often hide the contraband on themselves or on other items and equipment that may be headed back inside the institution. Once the inmate arrives back at the institution after their detail is completed they are often searched for contraband. It's not uncommon for an officer or staff member to be very relaxed during a search, not conduct a thorough search, or for staff and officers in charge of searching these inmates and the items or equipment that's entering the institution to also be getting bribed, extorted or coerced into purposely letting things slip through the screening process.

Drones: Drone delivery services provided by large retailers. I'm totally joking here. But drones operated by civilians conducting illegal activities by delivering contraband into an institution is a real thing and is very common these days. Often gang members will work with fellow gang members or any other people that are willing to take a chance to help introduce contraband to an institution. Often these people on the outside are paid extremely well for the part they play in the operation which often includes acquiring whatever the inmates on the inside request. These items are most often cellphones, illegal drugs and narcotics, prescription medications, tobacco and vapes, sometimes much more dangerous items such as knives, box cutters and even guns and ammunition. I've even heard of and can confirm that things like steaks, shrimp or other foods have been brought in this way and all the other ways too. And if you want a wild one I found out when I asked an officer what was the craziest thing they ever found during a search and the reply was a pocket pussy. Yep, you heard that right folks. Inmates are getting original and knock off fleshlights into the cells with them. It's not DeJorno folks it's pocket pussy on delivery.

So those are the most common ways inmates acquire cellphones and other contraband inside institutions. There are definitely many many other ways too that I haven't covered here. It's simple folks, inmates have all the time in the world to sit around and think of new ways to exploit the system so the cat and mouse game isn't likely to end any time soon.