# Combatting Contraband Cell Phone Use in Prisons (16.844)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/16-844-combatting-contraband-cell-phone-use-in-prisons/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Combatting Contraband Cell Phone Use in Prisons is run by Department of Justice. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $3.4 million in 9 grants, about $378,622 per award.

## Objectives

Program inactive and pending archival. Goals: Effectively assist correctional agencies to develop a tactical approach for combatting cellphone contraband including policy reviews, operational orders, security overhaul, staff training, and meeting the mandates of authority established by other federal agencies with oversight provision. Objectives: Provide best practices including: • technological solution implementation on comprehensive contraband interdiction systems for state and local governments; • Resources and tools to enhance staff training for institutional corrections staff; • Make available competitive sub-awards to correctional facilities to implement technologies that prevent and limit cell phone contraband and provide technical assistance on reviewing policies, procedures and technology implementation; • Conduct effective case studies and maintain documentation on the interactions, training, procurements, developments and other processes with the grantees selected to receive sub-awards; • Develop model policies, operational orders, and training curricula for state and local correctional agencies, to include cataloguing warrant language and state-level statutes, based on the respective case studies conducted for grantees selected to receive sub-awards; • Make information publicly available including via an online toolkit or other agreed upon means. Performance Measure 1: Number of grantees that have implemented or enhanced contraband interdiction systems; Performance Measure 2: Number of contraband cellphones confiscated or drones identified.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1.8 million | 5 |
| 2022 | $1.7 million | 4 |
| 2023 | -$41,760 | 0 |
| 2024 | -$2,910 | 0 |
| 2025 | -$19,711 | 0 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Department of Corrections | South Carolina | $425,000 |
| Washington State Department of Corrections | Washington | $425,000 |
| Department of Correction Tennessee | Tennessee | $419,004 |
| Alabama Department of Corrections | Alabama | $418,788 |
| New Jersey Department of Corrections | New Jersey | $417,706 |
| Oklahoma Department of Corrections | Oklahoma | $415,834 |
| Massachusetts Department of Corrections | Massachusetts | $397,700 |
| Criminal Justice Coordinating Council | Georgia | $378,456 |
| Juvenile Justice Office of | Louisiana | $110,112 |