WORKING in harmo- ny, security devices detect cell phones, guns, knives, drugs and other contraband in multiple ways, defend the facility and deter threats by their very presence. These systems work together to prevent in-body, on-body, package and perimeter hides and drops. Focusing on metal-based con- traband, CEIA USA’s equipment matches threats with solutions. “The illegal use of cell phones is a growing and dangerous problem in correctional institutions world- wide,” says Marilyn Thaxton, marketing manager, North America. “These devices are a sig- nificant threat to prison security and circumvent the monitoring processes in prisons, while help- ing inmates commit new crimes both inside and outside the facili- 28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DETECT & DETER Staying safe in a facility is all about detecting the threats and, better yet, deterring their use by having secure systems in place. Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc.’s Manta Ray ferrous wand is ideal for quick contraband sweeps.
Transcript
WORKING in harmo-ny, security devices detect cellphones, guns, knives, drugs andother contraband in multipleways, defend the facility and deterthreats by their very presence.These systems work together toprevent in-body, on-body, packageand perimeter hides and drops.
Focusing on metal-based con-traband, CEIA USA’s equipmentmatches threats with solutions.“The illegal use of cell phones is agrowing and dangerous problemin correctional institutions world-wide,” says Marilyn Thaxton,marketing manager, NorthAmerica. “These devices are a sig-nificant threat to prison securityand circumvent the monitoringprocesses in prisons, while help-ing inmates commit new crimesboth inside and outside the facili-
28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
DETECT & DETERStaying safe in a facility is all about detecting the threats and, better yet, deterring their use by having secure systems in place.
Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc.’s Manta Ray ferrous wand is ideal for quickcontraband sweeps.
ty. In addition, the need for thedetection of a variety of metalthreat objects going into andaround prisons continues to becritical for the safety of inmatesand corrections officers.” Criticaladvantages of CEIA metal detec-tors, she cites, include discrimina-tion, detection and immunity.
Discrimination is the ability toalarm for threat items such asguns and knives, while not alarm-ing on innocuous items, like belts,watches, and keys. As for detec-tion, “once you set a CEIA metaldetector to a certain security levelwe assure the detector meets orexceeds the security standard thatcorresponds to that security level,”she continues. And immunitymeans metal detectors need towork in a variety of locations thatpresent unique challenges.Electrical and mechanical interfer-ences can disrupt screening opera-tions as they are seen as noise bythe metal detectors. “CEIA metaldetectors have built-in functionsto recognize these noises and filterthem without affecting screeningoperations,” she adds.
Thaxton notes several modelsencompassing the CEIA lineup.
The CEIA SMD600 Plus multi-zone walk-through metal detectoroffers discrimination and detec-tion uniformity, providing accu-rate pinpointing of individual andmultiple metal targets, with analy-sis of all parts of the body of thepeople in transit, from the shoelevel to the detector’s crossbar.
The CEIA MSD (Magneto StaticDetector) is a one-piece, portable,covert/overt detector specificallydesigned to look for cell phoneswhere the use of a walk-throughmetal detector may not be applic-able, Thaxton describes. The MSDdetects all transmission devicescontaining magnetized partsincluding cell phones, radiotransceiver, smart phones, etc.
The PD240c CEIA’s new genera-tion handheld metal detector, com-bines high reliability with advanceddetection and operator signalingfeatures, she says. “In addition, theCEIA PD240 offers full compliance
with the latest NIJ security stan-dards, indoor or outdoor use, andup to 100 hours of continuousoperation on a single charge of itsrechargeable batteries.”
EMIS-MAIL is designed todetect a wide variety of metalthreat items including detonators,batteries, trigger circuits, andother metal components of parcelbombs, according to Thaxton. Itis uniquely qualified to operate ina prison or correctional facility
environment with specific set-tings available for prison parcelinspection. “Just as securitythreats continue to grow andevolve, correctional facilities mustcontinue to utilize state-of-the-artsecurity solutions,” she sums up.
Michael Frunzi, Ph.D., seniorbusiness development manager atSmiths Detection, talks aboutwhat he considers the most prob-lematic contraband items: drugsand small concealable objects that
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can be used as weapons, such asrazor blades. “Inmates ingest con-traband prior to entering correc-tional facilities, which makes tra-ditional search methods ineffec-tive.” The solution is screeningevery inmate with a full body X-ray scanner, he says. Not onlycan contraband be seen beneathclothing, but it can also be seeninside the digestive tract andwithin body parts and cavities.
The Smiths Detection B-SCANis a full body X-ray scannerdesigned to screen inmates fromhead to toe, he explains.“Oftentimes inmates voluntarilysurrender contraband when theylearn they will need to be screenedprior to entering the facility.Stopping contraband at the dooris much more effective than tryingto find it within the facility.”
In the past the only way todetect this type of contrabandswallowed and concealed withinthe digestive system was to havea medical facility do an X-ray,which does not encompass thefull body, or by placing theinmate in a dry cell and waitingfor the contraband to pass natu-rally. “Both of these methodstake time and dedicated man-power. The B-SCAN can screenan inmate in seven seconds,greatly reducing the time andeffort previously spent to searchinmates,” says Frunzi.
He adds that employing multi-ple screening technologies is therecommended way to go. “The
key to winning the war on con-traband is to adopt a layeredapproach to security. By imple-menting several security screen-ing technologies, facilities aren’trelying on just one, which willincrease success, because nodetection method by itself is 100percent foolproof.”
While focusing on cell phonethreats, “Our work in cybersecuri-ty and wireless test, security andsafety products has culminated inmany solutions all centeredaround the principle of securityin layers,” points out ScottSchober, CEO of BerkeleyVaritronics Systems, Inc. “Nosingle solution can stop con-traband phones in prisons.Multiple technologies, depart-
ments and personnel must beworking in harmony in order toeffectively reduce the amount ofcontraband in any prison.
“Of all the contraband thatmakes its way into our prisons,cell phones are among the mostdangerous because they allowcriminals both inside and outsideof the prison walls to communi-cate freely,” he says. This com-munication has led to many vio-lent attacks, death threats, riotsand prison escapes affectingmuch more than just prison pop-ulations.
When powered on, all cell
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Senstar’s FlexZone locating intrusion detection sensor reduces contrabandintroduction through intrusion.
Smiths Detection Tool Deployed
In Josephine County Jail, Grants Pass, Ore.“Drugs are a problem in any facility and I was looking for a bet-
ter way to address that problem, says Sheriff Dave Daniel.“Josephine County led the charge to bring the technology to mul-tiple correctional facilities in Oregon and we saved a significantamount of money by buying a group.
“We have found knives, heroin, and meth. We find it, whetherit’s in their mouth or the other end. The tool [the Smiths B-SCAN,full-body X-ray scanner] is a part of the job for the staff, just likeany other. It’s just an extra measure.
“We have an amnesty box where inmates can voluntarily forfeitanything they might have without facing charges. Everybodyknows the tool has been successful.” —G.F. Guercio
Sheriff Dave Daniel of the JosephineCounty Sheriff’s Office in Oregondeploys the Smiths Detection B-SCAN, a full-body X-ray scanner, to address contraband problems.
phones emit energy which con-tains a specific signature that isunique and can be identifiedamong many other typical wire-less energy sources. This allowscorrectional officers to identifyan active nearby cell phonerather than an active nearbyguard’s walkie talkie for exam-ple, Schober says. “Yorkie is acell phone detector that can bediscreetly operated from insideany pocket to deliver alerts toguards without alerting theprison population. The receiverdetects voice, texting and datause over 100 feet away and evena phone that is on but not beingused.” When coupled with adirectional-finding antenna, sen-sitive receivers such asWolfhound-Pro detect cellphones up to 200 feet away andalso allow security personnel tolocate the phone and its user.
When powered off, cell phonesstill contain signature compo-nents detectable by highly-sensi-tive ferromagnetic devices, heexplains. Ferrous detectors suchas SentryHound-Pro are sensitiveenough to detect modern smartphones constructed mostly of
plastic. “Our portable ferrousdetectors are lightweight, AC orDC powered and can be set upanywhere in less than 30 secondsfor impromptu scans. Our ferrousdetectors are even sensitive
enough to detect contrabandinside body cavities.” Ferrouswands such as Manta Ray arelightweight and have a detectionrange up to about six inches sothey are ideal for quick contra-band searches of both clothingand small packages.
“Another growing category ofcontraband detection is our fixeddeterrents and alert systems.These products are typically usedas deterrents in visitation oroffice areas of secured facilities.These products are mounted onportable stanchions or directly to
any wall providing all day wire-less monitoring without anyoperation from security person-nel.” When nearby phone activi-ty is detected, an audible andvisual alert will notify securitystaff and others including visit-ing family, lawyers and staff.“Due to the recent allegationsand lawsuits of overly-invasivesearching of visitors, deterrentsand alerts are a safe and impor-tant way to remind everyonethat security protocols can bebreached intentionally or acci-dentally by any visitor,” he says.“This goes right back to our orig-inal principle of layered security.It only works effectively whenmultiple technologies areemployed and everyone followsthe rules.”
Perimeter IntrusionContraband in correctional
facilities is a serious concern andthreatens the safety of staff,inmates and even the generalpublic, agrees Stewart Dewar,Senstar product manager.“Contraband can enter a facilityvia smuggling by visitors, com-
promised staff, or hidden withindeliveries, as well as by breachingthe perimeter of inmate yards viafence drops or drone delivery.”
There are many new technolo-gies on the market to detectnon-metallic contraband atmanaged entrances: X-rays, mil-l imeter wave, and thermaldevices for cavity inspection,plus a wide range of new tech-nologies for drone detection,Dewar notes. “However, aneffective contraband control
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Continues on page 36
Berkeley Varitronics Systems’ Yorkie cell phone detector is covert and pocketsized.
“Stopping contraband at the door
is much more effective than trying
to find it within the facility.”
— Michael Frunzi, Ph.D., Smiths Detection
plan needs to be grounded in aneffective, trusted perimeterintrusion detection system thatprovides surveillance of theperimeter against prisoneregress, minimizes the workloadon the security officers, and cancontribute to detecting hand-offsof contraband through or overthe perimeter wall or fence.”
Outdoor people-trackingvideo analytics can be especiallyhelpful for detecting fencedrops, he says. Most correctionalfacilities have a wide buffer areabetween their outer perimeterand the general public. Thermalcameras can detect personsapproaching the buffer zone dayor night, and direct low light,high-quality PTZ cameras addfurther assessment. “Video ana-lytics leverage the existing videosurveillance infrastructure, mak-
ing them a relatively easy tech-nology to test and subsequentlydeploy,” Dewar adds. “If theoverall perimeter of a correction-al facility is secure, vitalresources can be directed else-where, including to prevent con-traband.” And the combinationof the methods to detect anddeter threats, including metaldetectors, X-ray scanners, cell-phone locators, and perimeterintrusion surveillance devices,layer to protect the facility andthose inside and out. �
For more information, contact:CEIA USA, www.ceia-usa.comSmiths Detection, 203.417.0919,
