Using contraband cellphones to protect the public and stop crime in south carolina

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) received a $425,000 project grant award from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the federal Combatting Contraband Cell Phone Use in Prisons program (CFDA 16.844). The two-year award, issued October 1, 2021 with a completion date of September 30, 2023, will support SCDC's efforts to develop a tactical approach for combating contraband cellphone use in South Carolina prisons. Specifically, grant funds will assist SCDC to conduct policy reviews, overhaul security operations, provide staff training, and meet mandates established under the program's authority to effectively address the problem of contraband cellphones in correctional facilities. The award is intended to help SCDC curb contraband cellphone use that can enable criminal activity and threaten public safety if left unaddressed.