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Can you get in trouble for bringing cigarettes or a cellphone to an inmate in Georgia?

By: Mary Agramonte

            Georgia law has made it a felony for someone to give an inmate certain illicit items. These include guns, weapons, alcohol, drugs, tobacco and cellphones. If any of these items are given to an inmate without the warden’s permission, both the inmate and the person who gave it to the inmate, can be charged with a felony offense. This law is codified at O.C.G.A. § 42-5-18.

It is against the law for Inmates to possess certain items while in jail.

            If the inmate possesses a gun, weapon, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, he or she can be convicted and imprisoned for 1 to 5 years (which can run consecutive to whatever sentence they are currently serving). Interestingly, if the person in jail is being held for a misdemeanor arrest or conviction, and is caught with a cell phone in violation of Georgia law, Georgia law can be more lenient as this offense is actually a misdemeanor. On the other hand, if the person is being held for a felony and is caught with a cell phone, it will be charged as a felony.

The person on the outside bringing the items can be punished more severely in Georgia.

            Another caveat is that Georgia law is that is treats more harshly the person bringing the items, than it does the inmate possessing them. If you are the one who brings the prohibited items in, or even attempts to do so, it is a mandatory minimum of two years to serve in prison (and all the way up to 10 years). The mandatory two years cannot be served on probation meaning it is a mandatory prison sentence. This includes weapons, drugs, and alcohol will all result in a mandatory two years in prison if the person is convicted of that crime. If it is only cigarettes or tobacco, then the sentence is slightly lighter in Georgia in that is a mandatory one to five years in that situation if the person is convicted at trial or plea.

What about drones?

            As technology develops more in the outside world, people are becoming creative in ways to bring prohibited items into jails and prisons. In this regard, the Georgia legislature has enacted laws to prevent the use of drones and other unmanned aircraft systems in either taking photos of jails and prisons, or using the unmanned aircraft to bring the banned items into the prison walls.  In this situation, it is a 1 to 5 year sentence to use the drone to take photos, and a 1 to 10 year offense to actually attempt to bring items into jail or prison. Both of these are considered felony offenses.

            Whether you or a loved one has been caught either possession the items while in prison, or bringing the items into the prison, there is hope. Experienced criminal defense attorneys can put together a defense to mitigate and protect your future. Call W. Scott Smith today for a FREE CONSULTATION at 404-581-0999.