Prison-Generated Crimes Lead Honduran Authorities to Block Cell-Phone Service in Jails

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Article from NotiCen, March 13

Crimes such as extortion, carried out from Honduran prisons, as well as hits and robberies planned in the country’s jails, led authorities last month, in an effort to counter such illegal activities, to block cell-phone services in the 24 penitentiaries nationwide. It was one of the first measures taken by the new administration, headed by President Juan Orlando Hernández, who, on Jan. 27, succeeded former President Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo (2010-2014)--both of the rightist, pro-military Partido Nacional (PN)--for the 2014-2018 period. The measure is aimed at preventing convicts from running criminal networks from within prisons walls and cells, and it covers a 1 km radius. In an immediate response, inmates’ ingenuity began aiming at more-sophisticated technology--satellite telephones--and their anger against the measure triggered mutiny attempts in at least two prisons. George Rodríguez Read More