Category: Body Scanners

Of all the contraband that does sneak its way past security points, illegal substances are the most preferred by inmates and the most difficult to detect, even with body scanners.

Fortunately, as body scanning technology continues to improve, detecting drugs is becoming easier; however, it will always be a problem for correctional facilities.

Drugs Are A Wanted Item in Prisons

Behind prison gates, there is a booming economy funded by drugs that have somehow made it into the facility, whether on a person that has somehow evaded detection due to the use of less sophisticated scanning equipment or by some other means.

Drugs are always in demand, a commodity that someone is always looking to buy, no matter what the going rate might be at the time.

Cash, food, and favors can all be exchanged for the substances that have somehow made their way into the prison, creating a negative environment of haves and have-nots within the system and the wasting of funds that could and should be used in much better ways.

Entire drug-based debt systems exist among inmates in some facilities.

Illicit Drugs Causing Overdoses

Yet the worst of these issues is the number of overdoses still happening in facilities where drugs are not permitted and should not be getting past security points.

Inmate drug use has continued to rise as the years have passed, with record highs reported in recent years.

Sadly, the majority of those using within the system, many of whom actually start while in prison, go on to abuse and even overdose after release.

Real Need for Advanced Body Scanners

As detecting illicit substances gets harder, it is more important than ever before to have the best full body scanning technology in place to combat the issue.

Advanced body scanners that can now detect even soft substances like tiny packets of powder on or in the body with the ability to differentiate between human tissue and non-living materials are increasingly aiding in the detection of drugs before they make their way into the hands of an inmate.

Adding All this Up

For reasons both legal and ethical, prison facilities and any other facility where contraband scanning is required must address the ever-growing risk of drugs and other contraband entering by keeping up with the newer technology.

With the installation of more sensitive body scanning machines that can detect even the smallest amounts of drugs and strict compliance to their use, facilities can be safer and protect the lives of inmates, employees, and visitors alike.

Full body scanning makes security checking in correctional facilities a much faster, safer, and easier process.

Still, unless they are properly used, full body scanners for corrections may not be as effective as they are intended to be.

For any facility to utilize its scanners to the fullest, these important tips must be implemented to ensure the best use of this powerful security equipment.

Fully incorporated into a security program, their cost is well justified for how they improve prison safety in a multitude of ways.

1. Proper Image Analysis - Designed to create detailed images that detect everything from drugs and weapons to specific body parts and human tissue, it is essential that advanced full body scanning be done correctly for them to create quality images that can be accurately screened.
2. Continuous Training and Reporting - Employees using full body scanners for corrections must undergo specialized and continuous training on their full body scanning machine and software as well as be kept up to date on software changes to ensure proper and safe use of this equipment. Likewise, supervisors in charge of this equipment should maintain regular reports to analyze the success of their scanning program and make corrections as needed to increase effectiveness.
3. Policies and Protocols - To keep a high level of accuracy and scanning success, facilities should create policies on the use of full body scanning equipment according to the manufacturer’s safety and operational instructions as well as protocols that serve their facility best in terms of building security and contraband detection.
4. Use of Advanced Features - Regardless of how technologically advanced that full body scanners for corrections may be at a facility, the advanced features offered by each unit should be well understood and implemented as part of an effective security screening policy. Those features are designed to make scanning easier and safer and do little good if they are not used or used incorrectly.
5. Regular Upgrading - Like all other technology, full body scanning technology is upgraded from time to time, whether in terms of software for existing unit or the development of more advanced, more capable units. Software upgrades should be implemented on time as soon as they are available and new, more advanced equipment upgrades made as soon as financially feasible.

Full body scanning for corrections is proven to be one of the most effective means of detecting contraband and keeping prisons safe.

For these machines to actually do their jobs correctly, full body scanners for corrections must be utilized properly, updated regularly, and all employees kept well trained on this equipment.