NCJ Number
98364
Journal
Pacific Law Journal Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (January 1985) Pages: 409-430
Date Published
1985
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This comment considers the legal issues associated with the use of low-level radiation as an alternative to present methods for detecting contraband on inmate visitors or on inmates at the conclusion of a contact visit.
Abstract
An assessment of current x-ray technology finds that modern machines can deliver medically safe doses of radiation to prisoners and their visitors on a routine basis. An analysis of the constitutional challenges likely to be encountered by those seeking to implement x-ray searches in prisons focuses on the privacy issue. The case law examined concerns searches at U.S. borders, in airports, and in prisons by means other than x-ray. The courts' willingness to permit extensive privacy invasions (including body cavity searches of inmates) when important government interests are involved leads the author to conclude that the use of low-level radiation to search prisoners and their contact visitors is constitutional. A total of 168 footnotes are provided.