What's happening
This bill requires the creation of a contraband screening plan in correctional facilities, including drug-sniffing dogs, searches, and annual reporting to the legislature.
Why it matters
Increases accountability and transparency. by requiring annual reports to the legislature that detail contraband detection efforts, canine deployment, attempted contraband smuggling incidents, and drug testing results.
Expands use of trained detection dogs. at correctional facility entrances, with a rotating schedule to ensure every facility is included, aiming to deter and intercept illegal drugs more effectively.
Mandates comprehensive screening procedures. for everyone and everything entering facilities—including visitors, staff, and belongings—using a range of methods like metal detectors, pat searches, and oral cavity checks, which could affect privacy and daily operations.
Requires ongoing staff training. in the latest contraband screening techniques, which may improve detection rates and staff preparedness but also necessitates consistent resource allocation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Screening for Prison Contraband
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Boost Prison Contraband Checks
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Philip Palmesano
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
162
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. HELMING, AKSHAR, AMEDORE, FUNKE, GALLIVAN, JACOBS, O'MARA, ORTT, RITCHIE, ROBACH, SAVINO, YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to contraband screening at correctional facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 112 of the correction law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. The commissioner shall establish a contraband screening plan which shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) the use of a leashed and controlled canine trained to detect illegal drugs at the entrance of each correctional facility at a minimum of twelve facilities per week, provided such minimum shall be recalculated by the commissioner if any correctional facilities are closed on a random but rotating basis to ensure all facilities are included;
(b) the search of visitors, correctional staff, bags and other items entering the facility which may include, but not be limited to, electronic searches, metal detectors, pat searches, visual searches of oral cavities, and any other legal technology at the commissioner's discretion; and
(c) the training of staff on up to date and current contraband screening procedures.
(d) The commissioner shall provide a copy of such contraband screening plan as well as the prior year's plan including but not limited to results of the canine assignments, number of attempts to promote contraband and the number of urine tests and their results conducted statewide by facilities to the legislature by December thirty-first each year.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04981-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to contraband screening at correctional facilities
Purpose
This bill would require the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to establish a contraband screening plan in correctional facilities.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Section 112 of the Correction Law is amended to increase security and restrict contraband from entering the correction facility. It would require the Commissioner of (DOCCS) to establish a contraband screening plan in prisons. The plan would include, but not be limited to the use of a controlled canine at the entrance of each correctional facility. It would allow electronic, imaging scanning, pat down and visual searches of visitors, and the training of staff on up to date contraband screening procedures. Lastly, the Commissioner would be required to provide a copy of the contraband screening plan, including results to the Legislature each year.
Read the full memo (613 words)
Section 2: Provides an immediate effective date.
Justification
Contraband, whether drugs, weapons, drones, cash or any other item smug- gled into our prisons puts everyone at risk and often leads to fights among inmates and violent attacks on officers and staff Recently, there have been multiple incidents involving attacks on correction officers and inmates as a result of this.
Data collected indicates that 2017 marked the most violent year inside state prisons since 2007, which is the year statistics began being recorded. In 2017, there were 4,124 incidences of contraband compared to 2,483 in 2010. Furthermore, assaults on staff statewide has risen from 645 incidents in 2013 to 798 in 2017.
When looking at statistics, every metric tracked by DOCCS rose above the previous year's numbers. These alarming statistics and the several inci- dents since the beginning of this year underscore the critical need for changes to current protocols set forth by DOCCS.
In May 2017, after a large fight, officers found a drone, synthetic marijuana, a drug that is also known as "spice" or "spike" and multiple weapons inside Auburn Correctional Facility. In a recent attack at Five Points Correctional Facility in Seneca County, a half dozen officers were injured during several altercations with inmates inside a cell block. A black ceramic scalpel was found during a search and taken as evidence. This attack happened a mere week after a yard fight at the same facility. Over the last several months, the Elmira Correctional Facility has gone on lockdown on multiple occasions. Recently, a woman tried to bring drugs to her brother, who is an inmate at the Franklin Correctional Facility in Malone, New York. Police say a K-9 smelled the drugs in her purse. They say synthetic marijuana, known as K2, and Suboxone were both found. She was charged with promoting prison contra- band.
Most recently, at Orleans Correctional Facility, an inmate was saved after overdosing on heroin. An investigation led to the discovery of 24 packets of heroin in one of the dorms. This is just one example of drug use in correctional facilities. There are countless stories of failed drug tests among inmates. One particular set of parents who have a son in a correctional facility discussed how he cannot end his drug addiction because he has constant access to drugs.
Procedures and policies must be updated to end this dire situation. Increasing contraband screening of visitors to these facilities is a good step to ensure drugs or objects that can be used as weapons do not enter the institutions making them safer environments for both officers and inmates.
Legislative history
2018: S.7582-A passed Senate/ S.7582-B passed Senate /A.9885-A referred to Correction
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.