By Corrections1 Staff
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. — New York lawmakers are introducing a bill intended to reduce the amount of contraband found in state prisons.
Sen. Tom O’Mara, who is one of many calling on the DOC to make changes, is co-sponsoring a bill that lays out a comprehensive screening plan, WENY reports. The state’s correctional officers union said 2017 was potentially “the most violent year inside state prisons” over the last decade.
“Our correction officers are extremely concerned about rising violence,” O’Mara said.
The bill would require more extensive frisks and visual searches of anyone who visits any correctional facility in the state. The legislature also calls for random selection of visitor vehicles, K-9 searches at prison entrances, electronic image scanning and enhanced staff training.
Sen. Pam Helming said contraband in correctional facilities is “a growing problem that endangers both corrections officers and inmates,” according to The Lansing Star.
The Elmira Correctional Facility, for example, has gone on lockdown several times over the past few months. One of those lockdowns led to the discovery of more than 30 makeshift weapons.
The DOC said in a statement that it doesn’t “comment on pending legislation,” but went on to say that the department had taken several security measures, including de-escalation tactic training, a pepper spray pilot program and a portable contraband detector.
The State Correctional Officers Union said it supports the bill. The legislation was reported to the Senate Finance Committee earlier this week.