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No Cell Phones in Prison Cells

The white-washed walls of Big Mac; the Oklahoma State Prison at McAlester.
Oklahoma Department of Corrections
The white-washed walls of Big Mac; the Oklahoma State Prison at McAlester.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Bill bans cell phones in prisons

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Senate has given final approval to a bill to ban cell phones in Oklahoma prisons.

Sen. Don Barrington, a Lawton Republican, says items are already prohibited in prison include alcohol, tobacco, drugs and other items that can be used of weapons.

He says cell phones "are one of the more dangerous weapons since prisoners are using them to harass their victims," while continuing to be involved in drug cartels and other criminal activity.

The bill makes it a felony punishable with up to two years in jail and a $2,500 file for anyone to bring a cell phone or any electronic digital transmission device into a prison without permission.

The bill was approved Wednesday night and now goes to Gov. Brad Henry.