Combating Contraband in Prisons: Prevention, Risks, and Solutions

Published on January 14, 2025, by InmateAid

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Common Types of Contraband
• How Contraband Gets In
• How Contraband is Being Prevented
• The Ongoing Battle
• FAQs
• Conclusion

Introduction

Contraband is a persistent challenge in correctional facilities, posing significant risks to the safety and order of prisons. Defined as any unauthorized item that inmates are not permitted to possess, contraband ranges from seemingly harmless items like extra food or personal electronics to dangerous materials such as drugs, weapons, and cell phones. Each piece of contraband can undermine prison security, disrupt daily operations, and, in severe cases, result in violence or escape attempts.

Common Types of Contraband

Contraband in prisons can be divided into several categories:

1. Weapons: Homemade weapons, commonly known as “shanks,” are crafted from everyday objects such as toothbrushes, pens, or even metal scraps. These items pose serious threats to both staff and inmates.
2. Drugs and Alcohol: Illicit substances, including narcotics, prescription drugs, and homemade alcohol (“hooch”), are prevalent in many facilities. The presence of drugs exacerbates addiction issues and increases violent behavior.
3. Cell Phones: Despite strict regulations, cell phones are one of the most frequently smuggled items. They allow inmates to bypass monitored communication channels, enabling criminal activity, such as coordinating with outside accomplices.
4. Cash and Stamps: While inmates are typically not allowed to possess cash, it remains a sought-after contraband item, facilitating the underground prison economy. Stamps, often used as currency, can also become contraband when exchanged in bulk quantities.
5. Food and Personal Items: Items such as extra snacks, unauthorized hygiene products, or personal clothing may seem minor, but they can be used for trading and create security risks if left unchecked.

How Contraband Gets In

Despite the stringent security measures in place, contraband continues to find its way into correctional facilities through several methods:

1. Visitors: Friends or family members sometimes attempt to smuggle contraband during visits. This can include concealing items in body cavities or clothing.
2. Staff Corruption: In some instances, correctional staff may be bribed or coerced into bringing contraband into the facility. Given their access, staff are often the most effective method of smuggling for inmates.
3. Mail: Items such as drugs can be hidden in letters or inside the seams of envelopes. Facilities now employ scanning and chemical detection tools to identify tampered mail.
4. Drones: In recent years, drones have become a sophisticated method for delivering contraband. These devices can drop packages directly into prison yards or near housing units, often undetected.
5. Over the Fence: Contraband can be thrown over fences or walls into the prison yard. Inmates who work outside or have access to outdoor areas often retrieve these items.
6. Hoarding and Alteration: Even items permitted within the prison can be altered or combined to create contraband. For example, a simple toothbrush can be sharpened into a weapon, or batteries can be used to ignite makeshift explosives.

How Contraband is Being Prevented

Correctional facilities employ a variety of methods to prevent contraband from entering and spreading within their walls. These efforts are constantly evolving as inmates develop new techniques to bypass security.

1. Searches and Screenings

   • Body Scanners: Many facilities now use advanced body scanners to detect contraband concealed on or within a person’s body. These devices are particularly effective during intake and visitor processing.
   • Cell Searches: Routine and surprise cell searches are critical to maintaining order and preventing hidden contraband from being stockpiled.
   • Pat-Downs and Metal Detectors: Inmates, visitors, and staff may be subject to pat-down searches and walk-through metal detectors to intercept prohibited items.

2. Mail Monitoring

   • Many facilities have switched to digital mail systems, where letters and photos are scanned and delivered electronically to inmates. This eliminates the risk of physical contraband being smuggled through mail.
   • For facilities that still allow physical mail, specialized staff inspect all incoming items using x-ray machines and drug-sniffing dogs.

3. Visitor Restrictions and Monitoring

   • Correctional facilities impose strict visitation rules, including limiting the physical contact between inmates and visitors. Non-contact video visitation is increasingly being used as an alternative to prevent contraband smuggling during in-person visits.
   • Surveillance cameras and alert staff closely monitor all visitation areas to detect suspicious activity.

4. Technological Solutions

   • Drone Detection Systems: Some facilities have invested in drone detection technology, which alerts security personnel when an unauthorized drone is near prison grounds.
   • Cell Phone Jammers: To combat the use of smuggled cell phones, prisons may use jamming devices or detection technology to block unauthorized signals or locate hidden phones.

5. Staff Training and Integrity Programs

   • Preventing staff from smuggling contraband requires ongoing training and ethical reinforcement. Many facilities implement integrity programs that promote accountability and encourage staff to report any suspicious activity.

The Ongoing Battle

Despite these measures, combating contraband remains an ongoing challenge for correctional facilities. Inmates continue to find creative ways to obtain prohibited items, requiring jails and prisons to stay vigilant and proactive. By employing advanced technology, thorough searches, and strict monitoring, facilities strive to maintain safety and security while minimizing the risks posed by contraband.

Ultimately, the fight against contraband is a critical component of ensuring the well-being of both inmates and staff, as well as supporting a secure environment conducive to rehabilitation and orderly daily operations.

FAQs

1. What is considered contraband in a prison?
Contraband refers to any unauthorized item that inmates are not permitted to possess, including weapons, drugs, cell phones, cash, or even seemingly harmless items like extra food or personal electronics that can disrupt security or order.

2. How do inmates manage to get contraband inside prisons?
Contraband enters prisons through various methods, such as smuggling by visitors, corrupt staff, tampered mail, over-the-fence drops, and drone deliveries. Inmates may also alter permitted items into unauthorized tools or weapons.

3. Why is contraband in prisons such a serious issue?
Contraband poses significant risks to the safety and security of inmates, staff, and the facility as a whole. Items like weapons and drugs can lead to violence, addiction, and disruption of daily operations, while cell phones can facilitate criminal activity from inside the prison.

4. How do prisons detect and prevent contraband?
Facilities use body scanners, metal detectors, pat-down searches, routine cell inspections, mail screening, and visitor monitoring. Newer technologies like drone detection systems and cell phone jammers are also being deployed to prevent contraband.

5. Can inmates receive books and magazines?
Yes, but they must be sent directly from a publisher or an authorized vendor to prevent the introduction of contraband. The facility will reject items sent from unauthorized sources.

6. Are there penalties for smuggling contraband into a prison?
Yes, smuggling contraband is a criminal offense. Visitors, staff, or others caught introducing contraband can face arrest, prosecution, fines, and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense.

7. Do all prisons allow non-contact video visitation to reduce contraband smuggling?
Many correctional facilities are adopting non-contact video visitation systems to reduce the risk of contraband being passed during in-person visits. However, not all facilities have fully transitioned to this system.

8. How do drones contribute to contraband smuggling?
Drones have become a sophisticated method for delivering contraband by flying over prison fences and dropping packages directly into yards or near inmate housing units. Detection technology is being developed to combat this method.

9. What types of contraband are most commonly found in prisons?
Common types of contraband include homemade weapons (shanks), drugs, alcohol (hooch), cell phones, cash, and unauthorized personal items. These items are frequently found during routine searches and inspections.

Conclusion: Contraband – A Constant Challenge in Corrections

Contraband in prisons remains one of the most persistent and complex challenges faced by correctional facilities. The presence of unauthorized items undermines safety, disrupts rehabilitation efforts, and complicates day-to-day operations. While inmates continually develop new methods to smuggle in contraband, correctional facilities are responding with advanced technology, rigorous inspections, and strict enforcement of rules. The ongoing efforts to prevent contraband are crucial not only for maintaining order and safety but also for fostering an environment where rehabilitation can take place.

Ultimately, combating contraband is a shared responsibility among staff, inmates, and the community. By remaining vigilant and proactive, correctional facilities can better fulfill their mission to provide secure and humane incarceration while supporting inmates’ opportunities for personal growth and successful reintegration into society.