COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed the Captain Robertson Act Tuesday, making telecommunication devices illegal in state prisons.
Gov. McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette were joined by Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling, members of the General Assembly and other state agency leaders held the bill signing.
There is one exception to the law, if the SCDC director authorizes the inmate to use a device.
“The use of contraband cell phones and other communication devices to orchestrate crime both inside and outside of prison has been a serious threat that has had devastating consequences for innocent people across our state,” said Gov. McMaster. “Thanks to the leadership of Director Stirling, we have made tremendous progress in shutting down these devices. Today’s bill signing builds on our success, further strengthening our prisons’ security and protecting our communities from these criminals.”
Gov. McMaster defined telecommunications devices as any device that “enables communication with individuals inside or outside of a correctional facility.”
The governor went on to list cell phones, handheld radios, two‑way pagers and laptops.
“Telecommunication devices also include any new technology that has been developed or is used for similar purposes,” the governor said.
The legislation is named after Captain Robert Johnson, who was a former contraband captain at Lee Correctional Institution.
Captain Johnson died in 2010 after inmates ordered a hit on him using a contraband cell phone.
In the past decade, SCDC has found over 35,000 phones.
If a prisoner is caught with a telecommunication device, the first time is a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in prison.
After the first time, punishments get worse.
The second time prisoner gets caught is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Consequences are more severe is the device is used to commit a felony, and the individual could get an additional 10 years of prison time if the device is found.
