Is there anything new under the sun? Will we find new varieties of contraband in our facilities? Read on – and you may be surprised at what you find – or don’t find.
What has changed in the world of contraband? Not much, other than some tweaks in electronic detection methods and the introduction of smarter, smaller phones. While these are changes, they are merely continuations of trends started in previous years.
What, then, is new? I believe that much of what we find in 2013 will be the same as last year. However, the ways that we conduct searches are in our own hands. The power of the individual – not a new concept – becomes new when it is re-empowered. In other words, January 1, 2013 is a wonderful starting date to strengthen our resolve in the search for bootleg.
Following are five contraband control goals for the coming year. In 2013, you can resolve to do the following:
1. Vary searches: Break predictable patterns so that you can uncover more contraband. Doing so will keep prisoners guessing where staff will look next.
2. Include other staff: Contraband control is not a solo sport. New eyes cover more ground. Stores of experience differing from your own expand your perspective.
3. Self-train: In the absence of formal training, it is best to learn and grow by reading literature on the topic. Talking with seasoned staff also adds to your knowledge. The content of an article or a conversation may demonstrate a formerly elusive point. It is important to educate oneself on new ways to search.
4. Record searches: Log the time and dates of each search that you conduct. Note the details of what was (or was not) found. Record circumstances surrounding the searches. These details can suggest a pattern and aid in future searches. Also, is useful to note the particulars of facility searches. This helps us to understand the patterns of where searches are conducted and contraband is discovered in an institution-wide arena. This, like recording the searches you conduct, gives data that builds patterns. Knowing the facility-wide patterns may help preserve the safety in your institution.
5. Learn from surprises: A few years ago, I learned the merits of looking up. Prisoners had stored raw materials for shanks on the top of very tall shelves. The shelves were unused by staff, as they were about 10 feet above the floor. Still, it was a chilling revelation that weapons were so near, yet really out in the open and accessible. It should have seemed obvious, but it was not. I integrated looking up in subsequent searches after I was initially surprised.
The types of contraband that you will find this year will likely be similar to what you uncovered last year. That should come as no surprise to most corrections professionals. The differences will lie in your attitude and commitment. By adhering to contraband control resolutions, you will help preserve safety in your facility for staff and the offender. Of course, the public will also benefit from this basic security mind-set.
