Denver Westword
DENVER, Colo. — A good deal: Inmates pass a lot of time playing Gin, Texas Hold ‘Em or Go Fish, but the decks of cards in state jails and prisons could soon serve another purpose as well. The Colorado Department of Corrections is considering using decks emblazoned with the photos of missing persons and unsolved homicide victims, according to a DOC representative, who says the program is “a work in progress.”
Corrections departments in New York, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Washington and Texas already use or are introducing these cards in their jails in hopes that the images will spark tips from inmates - and maybe a confession or two. It’s certainly a captive audience, and one that probably has a better chance of recognizing victims of crime.
The cards are made by Effective Playing Cards, which has produced more than thirty of the customized law-enforcement decks - including a statewide deck for Florida jails. The company claims its cards have helped solve four criminal cases there, with several more potential indictments on the way.
Soon, a full house could lead somebody.
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