NCJ Number
177334
Journal
Instant Evidence (Summer 1996) Volume: Issue: Dated: Pages: 5-7
Editor(s)
B Poremba
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes how the corrections officers at the State prison of Southern Michigan use instant photography to document on-the-scene evidence of offenses committed by inmates.
Abstract
For demanding in-prison crime scene work, corrections officers rely on instant photography to document on-the-scene evidence of such offenses as possession of weapons and drugs, assault and battery, and even the illegal brewing of "spud juice" (prison term for home-brewed alcohol drink). Instant photos pertinent to the offense are attached to the misconduct report before it is filed. When a prisoner is assaulted, instant photos of his injuries are taken as well as photos of the setting where the assault occurred. In-prison theft is a major problem. Radios, TVs, clothing, and other items are often stolen by inmates from other inmates. When officers are conducting routine inmate "shake-downs," they look for items in the cell that do not have the inmate's identification number on it or have had the number removed; this is an indication that the item was probably stolen from another inmate. Instant photos of the stolen goods are used as evidence in prosecuting such theft cases. Photos are also used in cases of attempted escape; photos of the attempted escape route are taken, as are photos of false ID cards and any items used in the escape attempt. These photos become part of the inmate's misconduct file.