“Did You Get Rid of the ‘Books’?” (Why Talking in Code on a Jail Phone Never Works)

By: John Guidry

Let’s face it: being arrested is quite the invasion of privacy.

• The Search: First, the cops go through your wallet and purse. They pat down your entire body. They search through your cell phone pictures (unless you have a passcode, which I highly recommend). They may even search your home or car.
• The Jail: Once you arrive at the jail, a friendly strip search is in order. The toilets aren’t private. Neither are the showers.

So, if you don’t know by now that the jail phones are being recorded, you probably deserve whatever you have coming.

I’ve been defending criminal accusations here in Orlando for over 20 years. Lesson #256: You cannot save people from themselves. It is bad enough to be formally charged with a crime. But to add insult to injury, some folks just can’t help themselves, so they start blabbing on the jail phones.

Did you say something on the jail phone you regret?

Don’t let a recorded call seal your fate. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The Myth: “I’ll Just Talk in Code”

I know what you’re thinking: “What if I talk in code? They won’t know what I’m talking about, right?”

Wrong. Don’t believe me? Let’s review a real-life example of jail phone stupidity.

The Case: Faust v. State

The case for today is Faust v. State, 95 So. 3d 421 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012).

• The Crime: Faust was convicted of First-Degree Murder with a Firearm for killing his girlfriend.
• The Problem: The firearm was never found.
• The Plan: Faust thought he could outsmart the prosecutors by speaking in riddles on the jail phone.

The “Code” The State introduced recordings of Faust calling “the other woman” the day after the murder.

1. “The Thing”: He didn’t say “gun.” He told her to ask a friend to look for “the thing.”
2. “Money and Books”: In a second call, he asked if the “money” and “books” had been gotten rid of, because that would “save his life.”

The Result: Was that conversation “coded” enough to confuse a prosecutor with a Juris Doctorate? Not a chance. It wouldn’t even confuse a G.E.D. student working the drive-thru. The jury easily understood that “Money and Books” meant “Evidence and Weapon.”

The Legal Rule: “Consciousness of Guilt”

The Court denied Faust’s appeal. They held that the recordings were admissible because they showed “Consciousness of Guilt.”

“The recordings suggested that Faust was using code words to direct others to get rid of a weapon… Such conversations were admissible as they tended to show consciousness of guilt.”

In innocent conversations, people don’t usually ask if the “books” have been destroyed to “save their life.” The attempt to hide the meaning was, in itself, proof of guilt.

John’s 2026 Update: The AI Code-Breaker

Note: In 2012, Faust was caught because a human listened to the tape and used common sense. In 2026, the computer does the work.

1. AI Contextual Analysis Modern jail phone systems (like Securus and GTL) now use Artificial Intelligence to flag suspicious patterns.

• How it works: If you are in jail for a shooting, the AI scans your calls for words that don’t fit the context. If you start talking about “cleaning the laundry” or “moving the books” in a weird, repetitive way, the AI flags the call as a potential code for evidence tampering.
• Pattern Matching: The software compares your slang to thousands of other inmates. It knows that “stick,” “pole,” “thing,” and “books” are common substitutes for weapons.

2. The “Tablet” Trap Inmates often think the jail tablets (used for messaging) are safer than the phones because they are typing instead of speaking.

• Reality: Text analysis is even easier for the prosecution. They can search your messages for keywords instantly. We have seen cases where emojis (like a 🔫 or 💊) were used as evidence of “Consciousness of Guilt.”

3. Voice Biometrics You can’t hide by using another inmate’s PIN number. The system identifies your Voice Print automatically. Even if you use a fake name or code, the system tags the call to your case file.

The Only Safe Call is a Lawyer Call

There is no code smart enough to beat the prosecutor. If you need to discuss evidence, witnesses, or strategy, only speak to your attorney.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. I’m the only one who can keep your secrets.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.