The U.S. Embassy, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, supported the purchase of a telephone jammer system for the detention wing of the prison facility in Spuz. The Montenegrin Government purchased part of the equipment and conducted its installation, while the Embassy’s Rule of Law Program financed the purchase of software and related equipment to allow for high precision targeting of mobile phones.
This collaborative effort arose from the need to address the serious security issue posed by mobile phone smuggling carried out by the inmates of Spuz prison. The technology which is now in place helps to ensure the safety of prison guards by reducing the need for random searches otherwise necessary to intercept phones, helping to mitigate the risk of both COVID-19 transmission and security incidents.
The U.S. Department of State has provided long-term support to assist the Montenegrin Government in implementing its National Information Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy. The Embassy’s Rule of Law Program has funded home detention systems, including servers, software, and tracking equipment; leg braces; the purchase and installation of a wireless computer network (WLAN) in all courthouses in Montenegro; and IT equipment for courts and prosecution offices.
While it is important to have the technology in place to strengthen the rule of law infrastructure throughout the country, the Embassy looks to the government to take concrete steps to speed reforms in this area, which are crucial to Montenegro’s EU accession.
For more information on the U.S. Government’s programs in Montenegro, please visit the Embassy’s web site at https://me.usembassy.gov/.
