Safeguarding washington state correctional facilities and public safety by addressing contraband cellphones

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $425,000 under the Combatting Contraband Cell Phone Use in Prisons (CFDA 16.844) federal grant program to the Washington State Department of Corrections from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023. The grant funding will support the Washington DOC's efforts to effectively address contraband cellphones in state correctional facilities and safeguard public safety. Key deliverables include providing a Cellebrite cellphone cracking system and dedicated lab for contraband phone analysis at the Washington DOC through a $425,000 sub-award to Cellebrite Inc. The tools and forensic capabilities provided are intended to assist the Washington DOC in developing an enhanced tactical approach to combat cellphone smuggling, including security upgrades, staff training, and meeting federal mandates for addressing this ongoing challenge.