(BOP) - Most people who come to federal prisons as employees, contractors and visitors assist the agency in achieving our public safety mission. There are a few, however, who threaten the security and good order of our prisons and even threaten the safety of staff and inmates by introducing contraband into our secure institutions.
The Bureau has always carefully screened visitors and contractors who enter our institutions, and then last year we enhanced our procedures by implementing a new search policy. Periodically, everyone who enters a federal prison is subject to a random pat search of their person. This applies to official visitors, contractors, social visitors, volunteers, staff, etc.
Consistent with our long-standing practice of identifying technological solutions to enhance our operations, and through our continued partnership with the Council of Prison Locals to enhance the safety of our staff, the Bureau is testing the use of Millimeter Wave Scanners (MWS) for contraband detection. At six pilot locations, rather than being subject to periodic pat searches, visitors (including contractors, volunteers and officials visitors) and staff will be required to pass through a MWS prior to entering the prisons.
The test sites are the Federal Detention Center (FDC), Miami, Florida; the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Terre Haute, the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) El Reno, the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Guaynabo, MDC Brooklyn, and FCC Petersburg. At some of these locations more than a quarter million individuals enter the prison each year. Accordingly, these sites will provide a robust test of the durability and reliability of the technology.
On September 3, Deputy Director Thomas R. Kane visited FDC Miami to experience first-hand the new scanning procedures and to meet with staff. MWS is the technology approved for use by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) for searching airline passengers. It uses radio frequency to provide a fast and minimally invasive method to search for unauthorized items that could jeopardize the safety and security of a federal prison. MWS meets all current national and international safety standards and is deemed safe for all persons including children, pregnant women, and individuals with medical implants.
At each of the test sites, staff and visitors are alerted to the use of MWS through notices posted at the institution.
We are excited about the possibilities offered by this technology. It further enhances our mission of providing a safe and secure work environment for our staff, and ensuring inmates are prepared for a successful return to the community.