The use of x-ray body scanners as security devices has increased significantly in recent years, due mainly to their effectiveness, their safety, and how easy they are operated.
These features make body scanning especially useful in prisons where having the ability to do security checks quickly is paramount.
As body scanner technology continues to improve, their ability to detect contraband in prison settings improves with it, making it easier for these facilities to maintain the security and safety of all prisoners, staff, and visitors.
Safety vs Detection
A prime feature of using body scanners in prisons is the degree of safety they provide.
What used to require physical pat-down, strip searches, cavity searches, and less accurate wand scans to check for weapons, drugs, and other prohibited items can now be accomplished in just a few seconds without physical contact.
By merely walking slowly through the scanner, hidden items on a person can be easily seen on the scanner screen by security personnel.
Anyone shown to have a suspicious item on them can then be taken aside for a physical pat-down in the same manner that it is done at airport security checkpoints.
Full Body Scanners Are Safe
With regard to concerns about health safety and repeated exposure to non-medical x-rays while walking through body scanners every day, today’s technologically advanced full-body scanners are considered safe.
Cumulative dosages fall well below the recommended limit documented by The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP, USA).
Many units even record cumulative doses on a per person basis using ID numbers, fingerprints, or other identification so that everyone walking through the scanner multiple times can be closely monitored.
Human Rights Issues
Human rights violations are another concern when physical searches are conducted in prisons.
Fortunately, full-body scanning using the latest technology alleviates that problem and the potential legal issues that it can bring.
By providing accurate imaging that can be used to single out only those individuals found with suspicious items for further inspection, personal privacy is respected at all times unless an actual threat exists.
In Summary
Detecting contraband in prisons continues to be a challenge today, one that requires more sophisticated methods to address.
The introduction of body scanning at prison facilities has turned that all around.
Body scanners screen for contraband in a way that is not just efficient in high-speed environments where many people must be scanned quickly but is also safe and protects personal privacy.
Body scanning is an ideal solution for prisons and other similar facilities where security is critical.