Idaho’s Legal Loophole: Can Prisons Jam Contraband?

Idaho prison officials are dismissing harassment claims from accused quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger as mere “communication,” raising serious questions about inmate safety and the state’s duty to protect even the most despised criminals in custody.

Story Snapshot

• Idaho Department of Corrections downplays Kohberger’s harassment complaints as normal inmate communication
• Prison officials refuse to acknowledge coordinated intimidation efforts against the high-profile murder suspect
• Recent security incidents highlight dangers of unmonitored inmate communications and contraband cellphones
• Lawmakers push for cellphone jamming technology following violent prison escapes coordinated through illegal devices

Prison Officials Dismiss Harassment as Communication

The Idaho Department of Corrections characterized fellow inmates’ behavior toward Bryan Kohberger as simple attempts to “communicate” rather than harassment. This response came despite defense attorney filings alleging that Kohberger has faced persistent verbal hostility from other inmates since his arrival. Prison officials maintain that inmate communication is normal and expected within correctional facilities, suggesting Kohberger’s complaints lack merit.

Legal experts such as University of Idaho law professor Shaakirrah Sanders have said that the state’s handling of the harassment allegations could raise questions about due process and constitutional protections for pretrial detainees. While Kohberger faces charges in the brutal killing of four University of Idaho students, he remains innocent until proven guilty and entitled to basic safety protections while incarcerated.

Contraband Communications Fuel Security Concerns

According to the Idaho Department of Corrections, recent incidents involving contraband cellphones have been linked to security breaches, including inmate escapes. In March 2025, violent inmate Skylar Meade escaped custody with help from accomplices who coordinated the operation using illegal cellphones. This incident prompted Idaho lawmakers to propose federal legislation allowing cellphone jamming technology in correctional facilities.

The proliferation of contraband devices undermines prison security and enables criminal coordination both inside facilities and with outside accomplices. Corrections policy analysts at the Vera Institute of Justice note that inmate communication is both a protected right and a potential security vulnerability when not properly monitored or when involving contraband devices.

Legislative Response Targets Communication Vulnerabilities

Idaho senators introduced federal legislation in March 2025 to authorize cellphone jamming in prisons following the Meade escape incident. The proposed technology would prevent inmates from using contraband devices while maintaining access to monitored, legal communication channels. Correctional facilities are simultaneously implementing enhanced mail-scanning technology and reviewing existing communication protocols.

Idaho prison says inmates aren’t harassing Bryan Kohberger, they’re just trying to ‘communicate’ with him https://t.co/bDTt2wPeqm pic.twitter.com/cCIWNf4ssx

— New York Post (@nypost) August 14, 2025

Criminal justice researchers at the Urban Institute say similar measures in multiple states indicate a national trend toward using technology in corrections to address security risks while meeting legal standards for inmate communication. The Federal Communications Commission mandated expanded telecommunications services for disabled inmates in January 2024, complicating efforts to restrict communication while ensuring constitutional compliance and accessibility standards.

Sources:

After deadly escape, Idaho lawmakers call for tech to jam prison cellphones
Incarcerated People’s Communications Services
Prison & Jail Call Communication Systems in ID
Idaho Jail Standards April 2024