Cell Phones Smuggled Into Prisons Find Their Way Into San Jose Domestic Violence Victim's Hands
SAN JOSE (KCBS)— Dozens of cell phones confiscated from California inmates are now going to help victims of domestic violence in San Jose. Even though cell phones are banned behind bars, they somehow they keep making their way into California state prisons.
"One of the easiest ways is for someone on the outside of the prison to basically walk up to the outside perimeter fence of the state prison and throw the cell phone over the fence and barbed wire where the cell phone basically lands on the ground," said Santa Clara County Prosecutor Johnny Gogo.
He said over 200 phones confiscated from ChuckawallaValley State Prison are now being donated to Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence.
"[It's] basically paying the rent for their building, electricity, other utilities, and supplies," he said.
This is the second year the non-profit has received confiscated cell phones. But Gogo said the number of phones being found at Chuckawalla has actually declined recently.
"At that particular prison they do apparently have some type of cell-blocking mechanism, so they are confiscating less cell phones these days," Gogo said.