The widespread presence of unauthorized mobile phones in correctional facilities continues to be a significant enforcement challenge. A 2023 study found that cell phones are the second-most recovered type of contraband (after weapons), with a reported average of 31 phones recovered per 1,000 people. Using handsets that are smuggled in, dropped by drone, or even thrown over a fence, inmates commonly commit offenses that range from directing outside gang activity, to intimidating witnesses, to planning escapes.
One reason that contraband phones are so prevalent is that the measures commonly used to detect them have significant limitations. Physical methods such as pat downs of inmates and visitors, searches of cells and common areas, and operational security measures are all somewhat effective, but they cannot provide high confidence that phones have been excluded from a facility.
On the other hand, jamming technologies can block all mobile phone transmissions, but they interfere with legitimate use both inside the prison and among civilians living in the surrounding area. Use of jamming technologies is therefore restricted in some jurisdictions, and where it is used, the hardware is subject to tampering or destruction by inmates or their associates.
The SS8 platform offers a more sophisticated approach to mitigating the use of contraband mobile phones in prisons that involves detecting, monitoring, and disabling suspicious devices. It operates through the mobile network, cannot be detected by end users, and involves no vulnerable on-site hardware. As a use case for lawful intelligence, the SS8 approach focuses on investigation as well as enforcement, using passive and active location technologies to locate, intercept, monitor, and gather intelligence from contraband cell phone usage.
Investigate: Establish and Monitor Geofenced Quiet Zones
Mobile network coverage from a given cell tower may include territory both within and around the correctional facility. To differentiate between devices inside and outside, the SS8 platform uses passive location technology to allow one or more geofenced “quiet zones” to be defined for the facility. The solution detects all devices that enter or exit the geofenced quiet zone. The geometric boundaries of the zone can be defined with simple text strings using SS8’s Intellego XT Globe or an API. Intellego XT Globe also provides the capability to draw a polygon shape directly on a map to create a geofence.
The platform then uses active location technology to track devices within the quiet zone in real-time, collecting location data (including latitude, longitude, and radius of uncertainty) with high accuracy and reliability. Using quiet zone heuristics and pattern of life algorithms, Intellego XT Globe verifies with high confidence that the device is located within the geofenced area. These measures help avoid inadvertently interfering with the mobile phone service of neighbors and other civilians in the vicinity of the prison.
To differentiate between contraband phones and those operated within the quiet zone legitimately by staff and others, the SS8 solution uses Allow and Deny Lists of MSISDNs. The Allow List identifies the devices of trusted parties such as corrections officers as being permanently permitted within the facility. It also temporarily allows devices of less-trusted parties such as visitors or suppliers, regularly re-evaluating them over time. Devices that are specifically forbidden within the facility are collected on the Deny List.
Enforce: Disable Contraband Phones to Interrupt Illicit Activity
Devices on the Deny List are candidates to have their service disabled if detected within the prison. This workflow first requires the mobile network operator (MNO) to confirm proper lawful authorizations as required by the applicable regulations. With that clearance the corresponding MSISDN is tagged in the SS8 platform as authorized for disablement, which is then communicated to the MNO. After confirmation from the MNO, the MSISDN is marked “Disabled” in Globe.
Depending on the capabilities provided by the MNO, deactivation may be done virtually or offline. In the former case, the SS8 platform uses an MNO-provided API to enable or disable services either manually or automatically. Based on the capabilities of the API, it may even be possible to enable and disable specific data or voice services individually, such as SMS, MMS, or push-to-talk. In cases where MNOs don’t provide such an API, they are contacted by phone or email to enable or disable the relevant services, which is then recorded in the SS8 platform for transparency and auditability.
The infrastructure required to support the use of SS8 quiet zones builds on interfaces that MNOs commonly provide for emergency services, like the service capability exposure function (SCEF) in 4G networks and the network exposure function (NEF) in 5G. Intellego XT Globe can operate across network generations from 2G to 5G and beyond and identify both home and roaming users, and is backed by SS8’s nearly 25 years of innovation and experience in high accuracy lawful location intelligence.
About Javier D’Agostino
Javier is the Sales Director for the LATAM region for SS8 and has over 20 years of experience as a sales leader. He is responsible for the company’s strategic expansion into Communication Service Providers and Law Enforcement Agencies (Intelligence and Security). He has a BS in Information System Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of CEMA. To learn more about Javier, view his LinkedIn profile here.
About SS8 Networks
As a leader in Lawful and Location Intelligence, SS8 helps make societies safer. Our commitment is to extract, analyze, and visualize the critical intelligence that gives law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and emergency services the real-time insights that help save lives. Our high performance, flexible, and future-proof solutions also enable mobile network operators to achieve regulatory compliance with minimum disruption, time, and cost. SS8 is trusted by the largest government agencies, communications providers, and systems integrators globally.
Intellego® XT monitoring and data analytics portfolio is optimized for Law Enforcement Agencies to capture, analyze, and visualize complex data sets for real-time investigative intelligence.
LocationWise delivers the highest audited network location accuracy worldwide, providing active and passive location intelligence for emergency services, law enforcement, and mobile network operators.
Xcipio® mediation platform meets the demands of lawful intercept in any network type and provides the ability to transcode (convert) between lawful intercept handover versions and standard families.
To learn more, contact us at info@ss8.com.
