NCJ Number
216267
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 68 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 24-25,29
Date Published
October 2006
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses several strategies for controlling contraband in corrections facilities.
Abstract
Recent court rulings have put increasing limits on the ability of correctional officers to search inmates. Curtailing searches of inmates means that correctional officers must turn to other means to identify and decrease the presence of contraband materials within corrections institutions. Several strategies that inmates use to smuggle contraband, such as weapons and drugs, into corrections facilities are described along with methods correctional officers can use to decrease the success of contraband smuggling operations. Strategies for reducing contraband smuggling include developing intake/ID areas that are separate from the main jail to prevent newly arrested individuals from smuggling drugs into inmates and having correctional officers volunteer for shakedown crews in exchange for time off from other duties (shakedown crews search inmate areas for contraband). The use of trace detectors as well as a scanner and an X-ray Inspection Unit to detect drugs in corrections mail are described followed by a brief discussion of the BOSS chair, which has been developed to unobtrusively detect metal objects within body cavities. Finally, the author describes other security measures in place to keep dangerous objects and illicit drugs out of corrections facilities. Such security measures include the use of specialized thumb toothbrushes to prevent the fashioning of weapons and the use of specialized flexible pens that are designed to prevent inmates from draining the ink to use for tattoos. Exhibits