A supervisor at a South Carolina prison has been indicted on multiple charges after accepting over $219,000 in bribes and providing inmates with contraband cellphones. Christine Mary Livingston, who worked for the South Carolina Department of Corrections for 16 years and was promoted to captain at Broad River Correctional Institution in 2016, faces charges including bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Livingston collaborated with an inmate named Jerell Reaves to accept bribes for cellphones and other contraband items. They used the Cash App money transfer program to receive payments ranging from $1,000 to $7,000 for each phone. Reaves, also known as Hell Rell, is currently serving a 15-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter.
The issue of contraband cellphones in South Carolina prisons has been a persistent problem, leading to incidents such as a 2018 riot that resulted in seven inmate deaths. In response, Corrections Director Bryan Stirling has advocated for measures to address the use of illegal phones by inmates.
While the prison system has sought permission to jam cellphone signals, they have implemented a device that identifies all cellphones on prison grounds. This technology allows employees to request mobile phone carriers to block unauthorized numbers. However, due to budget constraints, the program is currently limited to a single-prison pilot.
State prison officials have issued thousands of violations for inmates possessing banned communication devices, with over 35,000 cellphones confiscated since 2015. Stirling has urged lawmakers to pass legislation explicitly prohibiting cellphones in prisons and imposing additional penalties for offenders.
The case involving Livingston and Reaves underscores the challenges faced by prison authorities in combating contraband activities and maintaining security within correctional facilities. The South Carolina prison system continues to explore strategies to address the proliferation of illegal cellphones and enhance safety for both inmates and staff.
