By Nathan Clark, MLive Express Desk
mlive.com
CARSON CITY, Mich. — Officers at Carson City Correctional Facility in mid- Michigan uncovered three cell phones, prisoner-made weapons and drug paraphernalia concealed inside a storage box with multiple false compartments during a routine cell search.
An officer with nearly 30 years of experience noticed a false bottom in the personal property storage box belonging to an prisoner serving time for two counts of first-degree homicide, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Further inspection revealed three additional hidden compartments inside the false bottom.
The search yielded several modified tablets and tablet batteries, approximately 50 electronic cords and adaptors, tattoo needles, and hand tools such as screwdrivers, in addition to materials used to trade or consume illegal drugs, officials said.
“I am grateful for the diligence and professionalism of our officers at Carson City,” said MDOC Deputy Director Jeremy Bush. “Comprehensive searches protect staff, incarcerated individuals, and the public from the dangers posed by contraband devices, weapons, and substances.”
The discovery comes as the Michigan Department of Corrections awaits a Federal Communications Commission vote on Nov. 19 regarding final rules that would allow state correctional agencies to jam cell phone signals in prisons.
Contraband communications devices can facilitate criminal activity, including coordinating violence, arranging drug deliveries and harassing victims, officials said.
“Curbing the use of contraband cell phones has become increasingly challenging for correctional facilities nationwide,” said MDOC Director Heidi Washington. “The department supports the use of signal jamming as a common-sense, cost-effective solution to stopping contraband cell phones from being used to commit crimes. Disabling the connectivity of these items prevents further harm inside our facilities and harm Michigan communities.”
In 2025, the department and Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a multi-state coalition calling for cell phone jamming systems to be used in prisons.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced the commission’s upcoming vote on Oct. 28, 2026, and publicly supported the technology’s use.
The department’s Safe Prisons Initiative, which launched in March, continues to strengthen contraband prevention through enhanced mail screening procedures, warehouse package scanners and increased entry point security for staff and visitors, officials said.
The initiative identifies five key areas that impact prison safety: prisoner classification and bed space; contraband introduction and technology; prisoner programming; training and staff support; and recruitment and retention.
MDOC recently moved forward with a plan to add 870 high-security beds across multiple facilities as part of an effort to improve prison safety and operations.
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