Introduction
Restricting prisoners’ access to a range of unsafe or illegal goods is an obvious measure necessary to maintain discipline in prisons. However, given the inmates’ propensity for deviant behavior and breaking the rules, it is not surprising that contraband is a common problem in prisons. The proliferation of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, mobile phones, and guns in prisons has led to spikes in violence, criminal activity, and misconduct.
The use of alcohol and drugs by prisoners often leads to the spread of dangerous diseases among them, such as HIV. Illegal possession of mobile phones in prisons can lead to acts of blackmail and witness harassment, as well as remote criminal activity and breach of containment. Smuggling poses a significant threat to the safety of both staff and inmates in correctional facilities.
Definition
Prison contraband should be defined to assess the dangerous effects of the distribution of illegal items in correctional facilities. Smuggling in places of deprivation of liberty usually means materials and things prohibited by the prison administration (Novisky et al., 2021). These include illicit goods, such as drugs, and items banned explicitly in prisons, such as cigarettes, alcohol, and mobile phones (Grommon et al., 2018).
Prison contraband can also consist of objects stored and used only in designated areas, such as construction tools. The objects of contraband can be everyday items modified illegally: a variety of sharpeners, strangleholds, and master keys. Moreover, smuggling may include legal objects over the permitted threshold, such as extra linen or personal hygiene items (Novisky et al., 2021). Different items require a different approach to their illegal distribution, a different level of danger, and specific control measures.
The definition of illegal objects can vary significantly within different correctional institutions. The prison administration should be responsible for informing prisoners about what items and quantities are prohibited. As a rule, this information is contained in unique reference books that prisoners receive upon admission to the correctional facility (Novisky et al., 2021). Getting the message out about what items are prohibited is essential in the fight against smuggling.
The Prevalence of the Problem
While it is clear what items can be smuggled, there is limited information on the prevalence of which type. Much of the data on prison smuggling comes from case records of convictions for possession and distribution of illegal goods in correctional institutions, random alcohol and drug tests, and reports and extrapolations. In general, researchers on the prevalence of various types of contraband in US prisons rely on individual reports or one-time inspections of specific structures (Novisky et al., 2021). Available data points to a significant problem with smuggling in US correctional facilities.
In 2011, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confiscated over 15,000 mobile phones. This number is more than ten times higher than in 2007, indicating a growing problem. After analyzing data for 44 states, the researchers found that mobile phone contraband was most widespread in the southern states. For example, one in three inmates in South Carolina was convicted of illegally possessing a mobile phone (Peterson et al., 2021). The problem of illegal means of communication is one of the main issues in the fight against prison smuggling.
Drugs and alcohol are the next most common contraband in US correctional facilities. About 1,000 cases of drug use are discovered every year in California. The positive rate among random drug tests is about 1.6%. The US Department of Justice reports that illicit drugs can be found in almost every federal prison (Peterson et al., 2021). Narcotic substances are the most significant problem in correctional facilities regarding smuggling, as confirmed by the security staff of these institutions. Reducing the possession and distribution of illegal drugs in places of detention is the key to maintaining security in them.
Consequences of Contraband
Detection of the most common types of contraband and the methods that prisoners use to spread it is a critical task since prohibited items pose a significant danger to prison staff and prisoners. The type of smuggling that poses the greatest threat to inmates and prison staff is weapons. Its storage and distribution in correctional institutions lead to acts of armed violence.
Studies indicate that between 0.1% and 1% of prisoners are victims of incidents involving smuggled weapons. After all, prisoners can use weapons for escape attempts: about 4% of escape attempts are accompanied by the use of firearms against the staff of the prison (Peterson et al., 2021). The administration should apply the most substantial containment measures to combat the smuggling of weapons in places of detention.
The distribution of other types of illegal things, such as alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes, leads to an unregulated shadow economy in prison. This stimulates criminal activity and increases the demand for other illegal goods that can be used for barter. Prisoners participating in illicit economic relationships are likelier to be victims of prison violence (Bucerius & Haggerty, 2019).
In addition, the use of alcohol and drugs in prisons poses a risk to the health of prisoners. This can lead to the worsening or development of destructive addictions and related chronic diseases, as well as the spread of certain infectious diseases, such as HIV or botulism (Bucerius & Haggerty, 2019). Limiting the distribution of these categories of goods is necessary primarily to ensure the prisoners’ safety.
Contraband poses a danger not only to prisoners and correctional staff but also to the outside world. Common illegal items, such as mobile phones, can be used by prisoners to contact their accomplices outside the prison and plan, coordinate, and organize new crimes. Criminals can also use the means of communication to threaten and blackmail witnesses, resulting in smuggling affecting them (Grommon et al., 2018). The prison administration must carefully ensure that prisoners use only legal means of communication with the outside world.
Conclusion
Possession and distribution of illegal goods are among the main problems in prisons in the United States. The most common object of contraband is mobile phones, which are used to put pressure on people in the outside world and continue criminal activities remotely. The effects of smuggling illicit items such as drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes are the emergence of a shadow economy and the resulting violence. There are also negative consequences for prisoners in the form of medical problems. Weapons in prisons lead to acts of armed aggression and related injuries to prisoners and correctional staff.
Correlations between specific characteristics of places of detention, such as location, selection of prisoners, rules of conduct, and types of contraband and their effects, require further study. Identifying such a relationship will allow appropriate, practical measures to be taken and reduce the risks of distributing illegal items and related adverse incidents. A thorough study of anti-smuggling methods will be a valuable source of information for managing this problem, which will ensure the safety of prisoners and correctional officers.
References
Bucerius, S. M., & Haggerty, K. D. (2019). Fentanyl behind bars: The implications of synthetic opiates for prisoners and correctional officers. International Journal of Drug Policy, 71, 133–138. Web.
Grommon, E., Carter, J., & Scheer, C. (2018). Quantifying the size of the contraband cell phone problem: Insights from a large rural state penitentiary. The Prison Journal, 98(5), 630–648. Web.
Novisky, M. A., Narvey, C. S., & Piquero, A. R. (2021). The keepers: Returning citizens’ experiences with prison staff misconduct. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 49(7), 1010–1030. Web.
Peterson, B., Kizzort, M., Kim, K., & Shukla, R. (2021). Prison contraband: Prevalence, impacts, and interdiction strategies. Corrections, 1–18. Web.