Recently, I attended the Wisconsin Jail Association’s 2012 conference in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The theme: “Keeping Everyone Safe.” Consistent with that concept, I presented a four-hour seminar called “Wake up and Smell the Contraband.” One of my goals was to impart the very important message that contraband control enhances safety in correctional facilities.
At the conclusion of the presentation, participants were asked to complete a six question survey regarding contraband. These are some of the answers offered by the WJA professionals.
1. Is contraband a problem in your facility?
80% answered yes.
13% said the contraband was not a problem in their facility.
7% said that at times contraband could be a problem.
2. When comparing jail and prison populations, jails generally have a fluid influx of new offenders. Prison populations, by comparison, are somewhat static. Because of this, do you think that there’s a difference between contraband found in most jails and most prisons?
78 percent of those responding stated that jails and prison have different contraband.
The remaining 22 percent basically opined that contraband is contraband and there’s not much difference in that which is in jails and prisons.
One respondent reasoned that experienced inmates will introduce ideas to new inmates. This allows for continuity of smuggling techniques. On the other side, one professional said, “Yes, I think the prisons have more freedoms.” Still another respondent said that prisons and jails have different contraband - prisons have more complexity to their contraband. Another professional stated that there is a difference “because people don’t know that they’re going to jail, making it more difficult to plan for different smuggling.”
3. What is the most frequently found contraband in your facility?Pills and drugs were the most frequently found contraband items according to responders.
Tobacco came in second.
Excessive but allowable items such as linen or art supplies came in third.
Institution-made alcohol or spud juice follow that.
Personal clothing and sharpened tooth brushes were next on the list of contraband items frequently found in jails.
4. What is the strangest contraband item you are found or if ever heard of?There was a rich variety of answers to this. In no particular order they follow: Monopoly pieces which were used to loosen security screws, papier-mâché dildos, toilet paper sculpture, shanks, altered tooth brushes, glasses with the arms fashioned into a pointy shank, crotched tobacco, aerosol can, small lighter which looked like a pistol, powdered cocaine, small bottle of vodka smuggled in via a vagina, entire drugstore in a size 15 sole of the shoe, a large storage container made from four decks of cards, tobacco wrapped in cellophane with a string attached to allow retrieval from a body cavity.
5. Can contraband in facilities be completely eliminated or simply lowered?
100 percent of those responded believe they can simply be lowered. No one who answered said that contraband can be completely eliminated.
6. How can corrections professionals stem the tide of contraband?
The most frequent answer was vigilance. This was followed by thorough searches, training, and diligence. A specific suggestion was “to check the cheeks of those who are being searched.” One professional suggested that we pay attention to inmate dynamics. Another professional suggested that contraband control is everyone’s job. One of my favorite answers was when someone suggested that we care enough about colleagues and simply do a good job.
The smartest person in the room does not exist. No single individual has the market cornered on all knowledge. It is our collective knowledge that makes wise and safe. Thanks so much, Wisconsin Jail Association, for helping to expand the base of corrections knowledge.
On a more personal note, thanks very much to the WJA for involving me in the conference. It was gratifying to exchange ideas so many committed, interesting, and friendly professionals.
