Death row cell phone scandal prompts big budget request

By LISA SANDBERG Copyright 2008 San Antonio Express-News
Dec. 3, 2008, 2:05PM

Texas prison officials are seeking nearly $66 million in public money
for new security equipment in an effort to rid cell phones and other
contraband from their lockups, just weeks after a systemwide sweep
uncovered hundreds of smuggled phones, including 18 on death row.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad
Livingston said today that the money would be spent on items such as
video surveillance, walk-through metal detectors and wand detectors.
Twenty maximum-security prisons, including the Polunsky Unit, which
houses death row, would be equipped with a comprehensive video system.
Oliver Bell, the chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice,
issued a stern warning today to anyone who might be unaware of the
changes underway and tempted to break the law.
"We will find (the contraband) wherever it is. We will stop it at the
perimeters. We are willing to do every single thing that is legal,"
Bell said at this morning's board meeting.
The funds sought by Livingston would have to be approved by both the
governor's office and the Legislative Budget Board.
While smuggled cell phones have been a growing problem for Texas
prison officials, they became a major headache for them six weeks ago
when 10 death row inmates were discovered to have placed nearly 2,800
calls from an illegal cell phone. The recipient of several
threatening calls was Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, chairman of the
Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
A systemwide lockdown was ordered, and in the three-week sweep that
followed, 289 cell phones and cell phone parts were discovered.
John Moriarty, the prison system's inspector general, said no
employees have been charged but investigators are pursuing leads.
Moriarty said that all prison visitors, including him, are now patted
down before being allowed entry.

lsandberg@express- news.net

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