SOP 204.09: Wireless Communications Devices

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|
|Policy Number: 204.09|Effective Date: 11/13/2025|Page Number: 1 of 4|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

I. Introduction and Summary:

This procedure explains the authorizations of Wireless Communication Devices
(Devices) inside any Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) facility and supports
searches of facilities and offenders to control contraband and its disposition. The GDC
reserves the right to investigate, retrieve and read any communication or data stored
on its respective servers, and that which is composed, transmitted or received through
voice services and online connections.

II. Authority:

A. GDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): 104.47, Employee Standards of

Conduct; 105.04, Telecommunications Policy Statement; 203.03, Incident
Reporting; 205.07, Post Orders; 206.02, Management of Offender Property or
Contraband; 215.03, Transitional Center Post Orders; 215.23, Transitional Center
Resident Cell Phones, and 226.02, Entry Security Procedures.

III. Definitions:

As used in this SOP, these terms are defined as follows.

A. State Repository of Information System (SCRIBE) - GDC’s official offender

records management system.

B. Wireless Communication Devices (Devices) - includes, but are not limited to the

following:

1. Cellular (Cell) Phone - A phone that permits Wireless Communication.

2. Commercial Frequency Two-way Radios - Digital radios operating on

frequencies assigned to companies such as Southern LINC and Nextel. These
radios may have cell phone capability. They differ from radios that operate on
public safety frequencies.

3. Pager - Small personal radio receiver that gives indication when a radio signal

is received.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|
|Policy Number: 204.09|Effective Date: 11/13/2025|Page Number: 2 of 4|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

4. Smart Glasses - A Pair of Eyeglasses (Prescription and Non-Prescription) that

can permit Wireless Communication, allow internet access, and/or send and
receive text messages.

5. Smart Phone - Cell Phone that can handle data in addition to voice calls. It

often allows users to browse the internet.

6. Tablets or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) With Wireless Access
Handheld Device that combines computing, telephone/fax, internet, and/or
networking features.

7. Text Messaging Device - Device capable of sending and receiving text

message to similar Devices, Cellular telephones, or Pagers;

8. Watches with Internet Access - Watches that allows the user to connect to a

server to provide any range of internet access.

IV. Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:

A. Only State-issued Devices or GDC approved Devices that are assigned to staff

should be allowed inside the facility. Cell Phones allowed for Transitional Center
Residents are addressed in SOP 215.23, Resident Cell Phones. At the first security
Checkpoint, the employee shall disclose to facility staff the type(s) of Devices
he/she is bringing into the facility. Facility staff will examine Devices to ensure
the validity of the Devices.

1. Once the Devices are examined the facility staff conducting the first security

check shall complete the Attachment 1, Wireless Device Tracking Sheet and
secure it to the staff member’s locator card or picture ID.

2. When the staff member exits the facility, the Devices and the information on

Attachment 1 shall be examined to ensure that the Devices that are being taken
out of the facility are the same Devices that entered the facility. The facility
staff, at the first checkpoint where the Devices were originally examined, is
responsible for ensuring this.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|
|Policy Number: 204.09|Effective Date: 11/13/2025|Page Number: 3 of 4|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

3. Facility staff assigned Devices are responsible for maintaining the

accountability of his/her Devices at all times while inside the facility.

B. At no time shall non-state issued Devices be allowed inside any GDC facility

without prior approval of the Appointing Authority. The only exceptions will be
in the following cases: Health Service Administrator (HSA), Physicians,
Psychiatrists, and/or Psychologists are authorized to bring personal Cell
Phones/Smart Phones into the facility _with prior written_ approval from the
Appointing Authority.

1. The Appointing Authority shall maintain a copy of the written authorizations.

Vendors/Contractors employed by other entities, such as AT&T, Dell,
Building Maintenance Companies, and Emergency Services Personnel, may
need to bring non-state issued Devices into the facility _without prior_ _written_
approval of the Appointing Authority, but the Appointing Authority must still
provide approval before non-state issued Devices are allowed into the facility.

C. All occurrences involving the detection or discovery of unauthorized/illegal

Devices must be entered into the Incident Reports application in Scribe.

1. This includes instances when Devices can be tied or linked to a specific

offender(s) as well as when Devices cannot be tied or linked to an offender,
such as Devices found in common areas within the facility.

2. Finally, the number of these Devices must be entered into the summary section

of the Incident Reports application. Any Devices confiscated and deemed
contraband shall be disposed of in accordance with SOP 206.02, Management
of Offender Property and Contraband.

D. This procedure does not restrict the responsibility of the Warden or Superintendent

to prevent the introduction of contraband into the facility.

V. Attachments:

Attachment 1: Wireless Device Tracking Sheet

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|Policy Name:Wireless Communications Devices|
|Policy Number: 204.09|Effective Date: 11/13/2025|Page Number: 4 of 4|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Facilities Division|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

VI. Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:

Upon completion, Attachment 1 shall be maintained for one (1) year in the Deputy
Warden of Security’s Office.