Cell Phone Ban in Prisons

SB 159 criminalizes cell phone possession inside Georgia prisons with felony-level penalties. Possessing a cell phone in a state prison facility would carry a sentence of 1 to 5 years — to be served consecutively with any existing sentence.

While framed as a security measure, this bill targets a critical lifeline for incarcerated people. Cell phones are often the only way prisoners can maintain contact with family members, report abuse and dangerous conditions, and access emergency help when the official communication systems — which charge exorbitant rates — fail or are deliberately restricted.

GPS opposes this bill because it criminalizes communication rather than addressing the underlying failures of prison communication systems. Georgia's prison phone system charges families up to $1 per minute, generating millions in revenue while keeping families apart. Rather than making communication more accessible and affordable, this bill adds years to sentences for people trying to stay connected to their loved ones.