AST June 2018 Magazine Volume 24 | Page 25

Volume 24 June 2018 Edition Corrections Officers face daunting challenges with contraband every day; working in a system that always seems to have one-step forward and two-steps back, never truly eradicating the problem. While Institutions keep pace with contraband trends, there must be practices in place to look objectively at their interdiction efforts. 5 Key Threats & Vulnerabilities of Jail & Prison Contraband Almost as long as prisons and jails have been in existence there have been efforts for inmates to get their hands on illegal contraband. Today, creativity, planning and col- laboration have changed the land- scape a bit and have added a whole new set of problematic items that inmates desire. It is commonplace for weapons and tools to be made from materials gathered within Whatever the item, it is very much a sit- the institution walls – kitchen items, stones, uation of supply and demand, and there are many willing participants. workshop tools, and more. 23