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By Steven W. Smith, Ph.D.
Contraband has reached epidemic proportions in U.S. correctional facilities, posing a significant threat to the safety of those confined or working inside jails and prisons.
Drug and alcohol deaths increased by more than 600% in U.S. state prisons over the past two decades, according to the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (April 2021). Prison searches routinely uncover huge amounts of contraband. For example, a 2021 top-down sweep of the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in Louisiana recovered more than 34 ounces of organic and synthetic marijuana, crystal meth, ecstasy, and suboxone, as well as 100 cell phones, sim cards, and 60 homemade weapons (The Advocate, December 2021).
The growing problem of contraband has prompted corrections to beef up detection measures, including pat-down searches, surveillance cameras, drone detection, perimeter patrols and K9 sweeps. One of the fastest growing solutions is high-tech x-ray body scanning that can detect threats hidden under clothing and within body cavities. Body scanners, first commercialized in the early 2010s, are becoming an industry standard and best practice for jails and prisons.
In fact, last year the U.K. Ministry of Justice reported that x-ray body scanners stopped 10,000 attempts to smuggle contraband into prisons in just over one year. Newly available funding has further fueled the U.S. demand for body scanners, with agencies across many states purchasing these products using Opioid Settlement Funds.
10 questions to ask
X-ray body scanning is a proven technology; however, not all systems are created equal. System designs vary, which can affect image quality, installation considerations, data management features, training, and operation. Correctional facility managers should consider the following questions when evaluating these systems:
1. Is x-ray body scanning safe?
Yes. All persons receive about 1,000 microsieverts (uSv) each year from naturally occurring radiation. Persons living at higher elevations, such as Denver, receive about twice this level. Body scanners operate with a user-selectable dose between 0.25 and 2.0 uSv per scan.
ANSI, in conjunction with the FDA, permits individuals to be screened up to 1,000 times per year at 0.25 uSv per scan, or 125 screenings per year at 2.0 uSv per scan.
2. What is the quality of the scanned images?
Image quality depends primarily on the radiation dose. Routine screening for internal concealment is generally conducted at 2.0 uSv or below. Lower doses may be insufficient for larger subjects. External screenings at 0.25 uSv are generally sufficient and exempt from recordkeeping.
The latest generation scanners look through the body horizontally (about 11 inches of tissue thickness), while older designs mounted on the floor scan at a 45-degree upward angle (about 16 inches of tissue thickness), resulting in reduced quality and distortion.
ANSI N42-47 provides the standard for image quality verification. Ask vendors for documentation that their products meet this minimum requirement.
3. What is the footprint of the system?
Older designs are as large as 6x10 feet while newer units are as small as 3x6 feet. Smaller units are better suited to tight jail and prison environments. Consider also the inspection zone — the prohibited area around the scanner for safety.
4. How easy is the system to use?
The ability to complete a scan quickly and easily is essential. Consider whether the subject must move on a platform, scan times (ranging from 4 to 14 seconds), and whether the system automatically detects when a subject is out of position.
5. Can the scanners be networked?
Networking is essential for multiple scanners. Look for systems that provide centralized control, management, subject data, scan records, and compliance tracking with ANSI safety standards.
6. Is there photo matching for evidentiary proof?
Photo matching proves that a scanned image belongs to a particular individual by merging an electronic photo with the scan image into a single encrypted file. Not all scanners provide this.
7. How easy is the system to install and relocate?
Installation should be quick (about two hours) and require minimal tools. Systems that come fully assembled can be relocated within a facility more easily.
8. What training, customer support, and field service is provided?
Operator training is critical. Ideal vendors provide training by certified radiology professionals and employ full-time service technicians who work with scanners daily. Vendors offering expert witness testimony are particularly valuable.
9. Where is the product made?
Many scanners are manufactured overseas, with limited U.S. support. This can cause delays in service and repairs. The National Security Council and U.S. State Department have warned about potential risks of covert surveillance and data theft from products manufactured by adversarial governments.
10. What value-added features are available?
Some scanners include FDA-approved thermal cameras to record inmate temperatures, providing early indications of COVID-19 and other infections.
Body scanners as part of a comprehensive contraband strategy
No single technology will solve all contraband problems. A diligent and trained staff, using the best-suited technologies, can intercept contraband and create safer environments. X-ray body scanners are a proven tool for reducing contraband in jails, prisons and correctional facilities.
About the Author
Steven W. Smith, Ph.D., is a global expert on x-ray body scanning technology. He developed the first commercial body scanner in 1992 and has helped develop safety and technical standards in the U.S. and abroad. He has a master’s degree in physics and a doctorate in electrical engineering, specializing in medical imaging. Dr. Smith is the founder of Tek84, Inc., a manufacturer of high-tech security scanning products based in San Diego.