May 13, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Laurel Lee has introduced a new bill aimed at addressing the issue of illegal cell phones in federal prisons. The proposed legislation, named the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, seeks to make smuggling a cell phone into a correctional facility a felony offense. This measure is intended to strengthen deterrence against future incidents and mandates a comprehensive review of the Department of Justice’s current contraband enforcement policies.
Currently, individuals caught smuggling phones into prisons face penalties of up to one year in prison. Rep. Laurel Lee emphasized the dangers posed by these devices: “Cell phones smuggled into prisons are being used to orchestrate criminal operations that endanger correctional officers, inmates, and the public.” She further stated that the legislation “strengthens the consequences for those who bring these devices behind bars and ensures the Department of Justice has the tools and direction needed to review and improve prison policies that address contraband.”
The congresswoman expressed her commitment to enhancing safety within correctional facilities through this legislative effort: “I am proud to introduce this legislation to protect the safety of our correctional officers, inmates, and communities by cracking down on the illegal use of cell phones in prisons.”
For more details on the bill, interested parties can access its text online.
