Prison donates confiscated cellphones to San Jose-based domestic violence advocacy group

A California state prison has donated more than 200 contraband cell phones to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office to help survivors of domestic violence.

The phones were confiscated from inmates at Chuckawala Valley State Prison. This week, Santa Clara County prosecutors brought the phones to Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence.

The San Jose-based battered women’s service agency collects used cellphones and recycles them in return for much-needed funds. This cellphone donation will generate about $2,000 to $2,500 for the organization.

“Some of these phones were used by inmates who have been convicted of domestic violence, and now they are being used to help survivors,” ADA Johnny Gogo said. “We are grateful to the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison officials for their generosity and willingness to help our community’s crime victims.”

Gogo contacted the prison through his brother, a correctional counselor in Chino.

Chuckawalla Sgt. Curtis Carney said that the prison had been seizing about 300 contraband cell phones a year. That slowed to about 35 a year when prison officials installed a cellphone blocking system. Some people hike miles through the desert, Carney said, and toss phones over the prisons walls.

Last year, Gogo coordinated the donation of 140 phones from the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco. Next Door has raised $5,000 this year from cellphone donations, and about $28,000 overall since its cellphone donation program began in 2003.

Anyone who would like to donate cellphones may contact Donna Knowlton at (408) 501-7550 or dknowlton@nextdoor.org.