One of the most overlooked areas in terms of security screening for contraband entering correctional facilities is the mail room, where letters and packages to prisoners arrive.
As the use of more advanced full body security scanning systems has significantly reduced the ability to get contraband into these facilities on a person, these items continue to get through to inmates in personal correspondence.
This is especially the case at facilities that do not have methods in place to properly scan incoming mail to catch these items before they are delivered to those inmates.
Instead, it has left many facilities in positions where they must either prohibit the delivery of mail to inmates or infringe on the privacy of inmates receiving mail by opening it first.
The Problems With Not Delivering Inmates Mail
The problem with these methods of security screening is that they are both unethical and unnecessary.
It is well known that it is beneficial to the well-being of inmates to receive letters and other correspondence from family and friends while incarcerated, so stopping that can be detrimental.
Opening private mail is a direct breach of each inmate’s privacy.
Neither of these is a good solution; however, allowing mail to enter that has not undergone some type of screening is not either.
On top of these issues, there is also the problem of the lack of personnel that many facilities deal with, making the slow task of mail screening using conventional methods too time-consuming, as necessary as it is.
The Usefulness of Security Scanning Systems
Fortunately, as continued advancement with full body security scanning for law enforcement is being made, some of this same technology is being used to develop smaller security scanning systems that can be used in mail rooms to scan incoming envelopes and packages prior to delivery to inmates.
Desktop high-definition scanners are the perfect solution for many facilities in need of more secure mail screening practices.
Designed to work in the same way as many full body scanning systems, these smaller, lower-cost machines are instrumental in improving safety in correctional facilities by catching more of the contraband benign sent through the mail.
3-D Scanning Technology for Contraband Detection
Using fast, convenient, and affordable 3-D scanning, facilities can continue to deliver privacy-protected mail to inmates while still catching any attempts to deliver drugs, electronics, weapons, and other contraband.
It is a workable solution that all facilities investing in advanced full body security scanning for law enforcement should include in their security screening process to protect staff, inmates, and others from the many threats that contraband in the hands of inmates create.