July / August 2019

JULY/AUGUST 2019 VOL. 28 NO. 4

HOW TO IMPROVE DENTAL CARE

TOOLS FOR SAFE TRANSPORT

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Editor-in-Chief

Donna Rogers

Tools for Safe Transport

Contributing Editors Michael Grohs, M.J. Guercio, Bill Schiffner, G.F. Guercio Editorial Intern Katrina Stroud

How to Improve Dental Care Services

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Jamie Stroud

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Countering Drone Invasion

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Analog Vs. Digital Security Cameras: Should You Switch?

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MAJOR DROP IN JAIL ADMISSIONS IN NYC NYC jail admissions are down almost 50% since 2014, a major achievement for criminal justice reform, according to a July 15 article in the New York Daily News. The piece furthered: “The safest big city in the U.S. is on track to become the city with the fewest people in jail, reflecting a major achievement for criminal justice reform,” according to statistics shared exclusively with The Daily News.

New Yorkers landed in jail in fiscal year 2019, from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, fewer than 40,000 times, according to the statistics compiled by the Mayor’s Of-

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fice for Criminal Justice. That’s about a 20% decline compared with the prior fiscal year. The figures represent the number of times people were sent to jail in New York City, whether for a day or longer, not the number of people who were jailed. The statistics pertain to the jails in the five boroughs as well as the hospital prison wards.

“Dropping to where we are now is about a 50% reduction over the last five years,” said Liz Glazer, director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. “Half those admitted into Rikers before this administration are now no longer

coming in.”

The rate of incarceration in New York City jails is the lowest since 1978, Glazer said, attributing the decline to a citywide decrease in crime, decriminalization of marijuana leading to fewer arrests, and progressive policy changes such as bail reform.

The number of people sitting in jail on any given day is down about 36% since 2014, the statistics show, the fastest decline in decades. “This is a significant drop and it’s good news,” said Tyler Nims, executive director of the Lippman Commission, which focuses on the criminal justice system and reforms.

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LOCAL OFFICIALS WANT FEDS TO SCRAP POLICY BLOCKING MEDICAID TO THOSE IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL County officials and sheriffs from around the U.S. are ramping

up an effort to press for changes to a federal policy that strips Medicaid coverage and other federal health care benefits from people who are in jail but who have not been con-

victed of crimes, according to a July 15 article in Route Fifty.

Counties and their local taxpayers end up covering medical expenses for people locked up pretrial. But the federal government and states share the cost of people on Medicaid, which provides health coverage for low-income Americans, the article said.

Those involved in a new initiative focused on the issue say they’re not only concerned about money.

The federal policy, they say, is also disruptive for the people it affects— who are disproportionately poor, minorities, or coping with mental illness and substance abuse.

“It’s a huge cost to the counties and isn’t really the best solution for the individuals coming into our jails,” said Commissioner Nancy Sharpe, of Arapahoe County, Colorado, at the National Association of Counties annual conference. “It truly is an error in federal law,” she added.

The current policy is codified in the Social Security Act and restricts the use of federal funds and services—including Veterans Affairs programs, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, and Medicaid—from being used to provide medical care for inmates.

As it stands, there’s no distinction under the law between convicted inmates in prison and people jailed awaiting trial. “This issue is simply about policy makers at the federal level not understanding the difference between prison and jail,” said Matt Chase, NACo’s CEO and executive director.

COLO. JAIL-BASED DRUG ADDICTION PROGRAM “Overcoming drug addiction is hard. Overcoming drug addiction as an inmate, where mental health

6 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

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services and treatments are limited, can prove impossible,” begins a May 1 article in the Steamboat Pilot, a paper covering Steamboat Springs, Colo.

The Routt County Board of Commissioners made a major step to change by implementing substance abuse-specific counseling services for the first time at the Routt County Jail. Craig Thornhill, a licensed professional counselor and addiction counselor, will spearhead the initiative. He has been providing the same service to Moffat County inmates and has seen a major improvement in addiction treatment as well as lower rates of recidivism, the article reported.

The new therapy program allo-

cates about $19,000, funded by a state-awarded grant as part of Colorado’s Jail Based Behavioral Services program, to pay for Thornhill’s services.

Since implementing addiction counseling services at the Moffat County Jail about two years ago and treating about 50 inmates per year, Thornhill has recorded that about half of the inmates he sees continue their treatments after their jail sentences. A 50% success rate is a major improvement compared to when he started, but the state wants that rate to increase to about 75% to 80%.

The substance use counseling program in Routt County, as Thornhill envisions it, would look some-

thing like this: Every inmate booked into the jail will receive a screening for substance abuse and mental health within 48 hours.

Those suffering from addiction can enroll in a weekly regimen of individual and group therapy as well as receive the medication-assisted treatments the jail already provides.

The goal of such a comprehensive approach is to create a continuum of services that meets a variety of patient needs.

Commissioner Tim Corrigan voiced support for expanding addiction treatments among the county’s inmates at the meeting.

“Just the medically aided treatment is not enough,” he said. “You have to get to the underlying causes.”

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BY M.J. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Escape Prevention: The Constant Battle From locks and restraints to specialized transport, it all counts with lives on the line.

Inmates

will exploit any weakness to escape. Escape prevention is a constant battle between inmates and correctional institutions and their officers.

“Inmates are gaining access to new technology, constantly educating themselves on how to escape,” says Rich Renehan, president of Advanced Restraint Systems. Co-president Lee Reed III adds that it includes: “how to pick locks, how to work computers, how to manipulate CCTV, how to manipulate smart phones, how to beat metal detectors, and so much more.” Reed created the Secure Fit Restraint Mitt and Leg Restraint System to increase the safety and security of correctional facilities, he says. “Innovative products and procedures today 10 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

are aimed at helping to keep our correctional officers one step ahead of those we entrusted them to keep incarcerated.”

Past escape attempts provide insight into security flaws, says Dan Donohue, director of sales, Craftmaster Hardware. “We had one customer who told us that a key was cut from a lunch tray by studying the key on the officer’s belt used to open his cell.” He notes that Craftmaster sells key shields to prevent duplication from observation for this reason.

Lack of key control can create weaknesses in a facility’s security protocol, he continues. Electronic key boxes by Keyper Systems provide alerts and audit reports that monitor facility and staff activity.

“Locks are a crucial part of every detention facility’s safety and security protocol,” says Donohue.

“Working with key control officers and security personnel throughout the U.S. since 1995, Craftmaster Hardware has gained the insights and expertise to help with any situation you may encounter within the high-security prison environment.”

Craftmaster stocks Southern Folger locks and detention door hardware as well as Master and American padlocks. He adds that by stocking thousands of locks and parts they can supply any facility’s needs quickly and efficiently.

‘Great Deterrent’ When they are not behind those locks, inmates exposed to the public during hospital and court visits pose a security risk.

Adding to this risk, inmates often cannot be visibly restrained in

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Bob Barker’s VanCell Elite 2.0A features an ADAcompliant wheelchairaccessible lift and tiedowns that safely secure any type of wheelchair.

courtrooms or medical facilities.

Brad Myers, president of Myers Enterprises, Inc. notes that many judges adhere to the premise that a person must appear innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Myers says, “Stun-Cuff is worn under the pant leg so if the offender jumps up to grab the judge the officer can activate the device and it puts him down on the ground.” Hospital staff prefers that inmates are not visibly restrained while receiving treatment, but still require the safety that restraints offer, he adds. “In treatment it helps, especially if there is a petite or elderly practitioner," says Myers. “It’s a good idea to have as an equalizer.” There has never been any litigation against the Stun-Cuff, which records the date and time of use, because “the data port will coincide with them trying to escape, fight or go after someone.” The device often doesn’t need to be used, he points out, “and it’s a great deterrent when you demonstrate before you put it on.” When activated, the device contracts the leg muscle,

pulling the leg up to the rear to incapacitate the inmate.

Custom Fit Transporting prisoners is a daunting task, says Tom Wagner Motor Coach Industries (MCI) vice president, Public Sector, as

transportation has to provide the security of a fortified corrections facility. MCI developed the Inmate Security Transportation Vehicle, or ISTV, he explains, “sometimes referred to as the prison on wheels,” to provide a safe and secure means of trans-

The ASP Trifold is a disposable restraint that guards against metal and sharp edges and prevents easily converting it into a weapon.

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CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019 11

Lack of key control can create weaknesses in a facility’s security protocol, an area Craftmaster Hardware encounters and overcomes within the high-security prison environment.

port. The ISTV is based on the best selling D-Series Model, notes Wagner, and it has room for up to 69 inmates. The next generation D-Series model, the D45 CRT LE, is a breakthrough in ADA (American with Disabilities Act) accessibility, he says, “and comes with MCI’s patented low-entry vestibule, which accommodates passengers with mobility devices.”

Enforcement agencies have their own unique requirements.

For this reason, Wagner explains, “MCI collaborates with each agency to design a coach which incorporates options and security features for their specific operating environment.” The new series will be available with 100 percent battery-electric and standard high-floor configurations starting in 2020 and the ISTV versions of the model will be available in 2022, he adds.

The right equipment, officer efficiency, and best tactical practices are essential, says Michael Hess, VP of Marketing at ASP, to both corrections and public safety. ASP offers intensive tuitionfree training for its products, including its new line of Prison Transport solutions.

The Transport Kit is a multi-restraint system that integrates with the Ultra Cuffs. Hess states that the cuffs feature a transport channel 12 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

with ankle and waist-restraint options that fasten with a locking device which auto engages without a key present. The system will “allow attachment, adjustment and removal of the chain and belt component without ever having to remove or adjust the wrist restraints.” ASP also offers a disposable restraint, the Tri-Fold, consisting of a polymer material that remains pliant and strong with a long shelf life and doesn’t require rehydrating. Hess adds that, “Their single-use design reduces the risk of exposure to pathogens, and the absence of metal parts and sharp edges means it can’t easily be used as,

Safe Restraints’ WRAP Extradition Harness was developed to combat the need for greater transport security.

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Electronic key boxes and locks from Craftmaster Hardware can eliminate weakness in a facility’s security protocol.

or converted to, a weapon.”

The WRAP Extradition Harness is another option to a waist chain, says Charles Hammond, president of Safe Restrains, Inc. The product was developed based on requests from existing jails, prisons and transport teams, he explains, to combat the need for greater transport security. “The subject is comfortable yet definitively restrained,” he says. “This tool is easy to apply, light and keeps staff safe with a much higher level of subject control,” according to Hammond. The harness keeps elbows next to the 14 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

body to prevent swinging, and the subject’s hands can be kept in front or in back of the body.

Cameras: Overcoming Blind Spots It’s a complex process that involves a multitude of safety issues, says Jeremy Amidon, senior director of Marketing and Strategy at Bob Barker, when it comes to inmate transport. “For instance, male and female passengers can’t always be in the same vehicle,” he notes. “Some

passengers need to remain separate from other passengers due to past conflicts, potential gang affiliations or PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) regulations.”

And blind spots inside and outside the vehicle pose a significant risk to officers and other inmates.

Amidon says, “No matter what type of transportation system your agency uses, adding a video monitoring system can help you achieve the level of safety and security you’re looking for.”

The optional Safety Vision monitoring system for the VanCell Elite 2.0 and VanCell Elite 2.0A comes with four interior cameras and optional exteriormounted rear or side-mounted cameras. The cameras are high definition with infrared capabilities and digital noise reduction.

They come with a five-channel video recorder, and can record simultaneously. The definition is 720p HD and can record up to 43 hours on a 128 GB SD card. The playback employs a simple and easy-to-use touch screen with a bookmark event button for inmate behavior playback.

Enforcement agencies often rely on medical transport or thirdparty transport companies for their wheelchair transportation needs, adds Amidon. “These services often come at a high cost and limits their ability to efficiently schedule their transport operations,” he says. “Safety concerns are also a top priority when transporting persons with disabilities.”

The VanCell Elite 2.0A features an ADA-compliant wheelchair-accessible lift and tie-downs that safely secure any type of wheelchair. It can transport up to eight passengers in the rear compartment and one wheelchair passenger in the middle compartment.

Inmate loading and unloading is a high-risk environment and officer and inmate safety is of the upmost importance. TSV T-shirt Stab Vests are comfortable and durable, Amidon says. “TSV Tshirt Stab Vests offer greater comfort than traditional concealed

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The MCI Inmate Security Transportation Vehicle, or “prison on wheels,” allows ADA accessibility.

stab vests and provide lower profile appliance while maintaining maximum protection to perform required tasks during transport.”

Having the right equipment in place as effective countermeasures can mean the difference between

a life saved and a life lost for both officers and inmates. In addition to the stab vests, these countermeasures include specialized vehicles, restraints during transport or public appearances, adequate locks, doors and key control sys-

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tems all which help neutralize these security threats.

Inmates will exploit weaknesses in the system, penetrating containment or using physical force to escape or inflict damage, sometimes receiving outside help from friends, family and fellow gang members. Exploiting the system can also come from adapting implements to use as weapons or lock picks.

As inmates launch these escape attempts or inflict injury during necessary transportation, corrections institutions and the companies that supply them must stay abreast of inmate behavior, including their new methods of escape and violence. Fortunately for corrections officers and institutions, these escape attempts reveal flaws and weaknesses in the system that can be studied and rectified globally by enforcement agencies and the companies that supply them, keeping them one step ahead in the constant battle of escape prevention. %

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BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Little or no access to oral care over the years is an issue in regard to long- and short-term inmate dental treatment.

Long in the Tooth A

Houston Chronicle investigation found that inmates with few or no teeth were routinely denied dentures and instead offered pureed food served in a cup. In 2016, prison medical providers in Texas approved dispensing a mere 71 denture prosthetics to a population of nearly 150,000 inmates, many of whom were elderly, had a history of drug use, or who came from impoverished backgrounds with little or no access to dental care. It was a significant decrease from 15 years before when there was a denture-mak16 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

ing program in-house and medical practitioners approved nearly 1,300 dental prosthetics.

The Chronicle investigation, which went on for a year, included communications from more than two dozen inmates who discussed failed attempts to get dentures, difficulties chewing, and a reluctance to adopt the diet of pureed cafeteria food. Some reported that they’d had all their teeth removed under the pretense of getting dentures. Others lost their dentures over time or came in with dentures that later broke.

Some filed grievances but were

repeatedly denied, in some cases by staffers who cited policies that were no longer in effect, and other times by dentists who claimed inmates couldn’t get dentures unless they became underweight. The policy only allowed for dentures in situations of medical necessity, and chewing didn’t count as one. Since then, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has become what’s believed to be the first correctional agency in the country to use 3D-printing technology to mold dentures on site. The process is expected to reduce the

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waiting time from months to weeks and may cost as little as $50 apiece. (Start-up tech costs were predicted to be between $50,000 and $100,000.)

Isaac Newman, chief operating officer of DentServ Dental Services, notes that oftentimes, when inmates are admitted to a facility, it is with “pretty poor conditions, orally.” While inside, he says, dental problems are treated, but continuous care is often overlooked. Many arrive from underprivileged communities and come in with little information about dental care, and while they are inside, they do not get any information. A problem is fixed, and a new one arises.

Inmates interviewed for one study discussed a policy called “pull and pay” in which a tooth is extracted for a small fee rather than filled or fixed with other costlier methods. For many inmates with “no money on the books,” this can cause problems.

That lack of information is one aspect DentServ is trying to remedy. Says Newman, “We come into the facility and train the inmates on oral hygiene.” The dental issues, he says, are “all over the map” and often depend on the region in which the facility is located. For example, regions where methamphetamine is rampant might produce more inmates with “meth mouth.”

Jean Kennedy, DDS, corporate dental director at Wexford Health notes that the general dental health of detainees and inmate patients is relatively similar to those of free-world patients; however, “We do find a higher percentage of people needing dental care, often because some of the people we care for are part of an underserved population. The dental needs may be due to factors such as less preventive care, poor nutrition, and incomplete dental procedures. These factors not only affect the condition of their teeth and mouth but their overall health as well.”

She also stresses that a signifi18 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

Delay and decay: Poor oral hygiene, lack of care and methamphetamine use can wreak damage on inmate’s teeth, gums, and mouth.

cant percentage of inmate patients are substance users. One of the many ways that drugs, such as methamphetamines, can seriously harm a user is by wreaking damage on their teeth, gums, and mouth. The need for extensive dental care for inmates recovering from any type of substance abuse is generally greater than that of other inmate

patients. “As mentioned before, depending on an inmate patient’s specific circumstances surrounding preventive care, nutrition, follow-up care, and substance abuse, there is often a need for more than average dental care.

With some inmate patients, their repeated neglect of dental problems prior to incarceration can also lead to more complex treat-

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ment needs during their incarceration.”

Rhonda Lemons, DDS, CCHP, is Centurion’s statewide dental supervisor in Georgia. The overall situation with dental health and inmates, she says, is that there is such a high demand in prisons and jails for dental treatment.

“The majority of patients that we serve come to prison with preexisting conditions of tooth decay and gum disease.” The primary issues that most of the patients present with are tooth pain, bleeding gums, and missing teeth.

Generally while incarcerated, inmates, says Lemons, are not more susceptible to certain issues than the community because they have better access to care while in the facility. They arrive with many unresolved dental issues or complaints as a result of neglect and lack of care on the outside because of money, insurance, or drug use. “In some cases, a visit to the dentist in prison is the first encounter with dental treatment some patients have ever had.”

In a study authored by David Redemske, a Certified Correctional Health Professional from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care at HDR, wrote that inmates have “patterns of dental decay that far exceed the general population.”

As did Kennedy and Newman, he noted that the primary reasons are behavioral, such as drug use, as well as the lack of information, lack of insurance, and a lack of preventive care. There is also the matter of chronic medical conditions such as hepatitis and cardiovascular disease, which can complicate dental proceedings.

Redemske cited a study that noted the difficulties in determining whether the effects of long-term prisoners’ dental needs are the same as the newly incarcerated as a result of personnel shortages, lack of patient cooperation, and the difficulties in maintaining long-term doctor-

patient relationships as well as other barriers. Incoming inmates, though, did have a higher need for care than long-term inmates, which may be a result of longterm inmates having more access to resources.

What procedures and how much is covered is largely up to the facility. Newman points out that naturally procedures such as implants, which are expensive and inaccessible to many insured people in the community, are

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not going to be available to an inmate. Says Kennedy, “The amount of dental care provided to inmate patients in any of our facilities depends on the contract we have signed with the client and that jurisdiction (state, county, or city). To ensure a standard of appropriate care, Wexford Health complies and upholds all American Dental Association (ADA) and National Commission of Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards

CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019 19

Inmates interviewed for one study discussed a policy called “pull and pay” in which a tooth is extracted for a small fee rather than filled or fixed with other costlier methods.

and regulations for inmate patient dental care. In general, routine inmate patient dental care will consist of cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions and dentures, etc.”

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) policy, inmates with certain chronic medical conditions that could affect oral health, such as HIV, diabetes, or seizures, are to be notified that they are eligible to receive an annual, comprehensive dental examination. All CDCR facilities are also required to maintain a periodontal disease program that is to be available to all patients based on the completion of a comprehensive dental examination, the implementation of a dental plan, prior completion of DPC 1 dental treatment, and the amount of time remaining on the inmate’s sentence.

Lemons furthers that the amount of dental work Centurion provides is based on the needs of the patient and varies from state to state. She also points out that there are limitations for cosmetic, fixed prosthodontic, and orthodontic procedures. “Nevertheless, we do focus on the alleviation of pain and infection as well as restoring masticatory function.”

Much correctional dental care is outsourced rather than performed by in-house dental teams, and the majority is conducted onsite. According to the National Health Statistics Reports, approxi20 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

mately 4 out of 5 of the states that participated in the survey provided dental care services both on-site and off-site. Seven delivered dental care exclusively onsite. None provided all dental care off-site. Says Kennedy, “Dental care is provided both on- and offsite. Routine care is typically provided on-site. The more complicated surgeries and procedures are usually sent off-site to specialty care providers. On rare occasions, we may bring dental specialists on-site if the volume of inmate patient needs requires it.” Lemons note that most dental treatment is handled on site with the exception of difficult extractions and jaw fractures.

Despite the fact that telemedicine is a growing trend in the medical field, particularly in corrections, neither Wexford Health nor DentServ is utilizing dental telemedicine at this time. Says Johnny Wu, MD FACP FACCP CCHP-A, Centurion’s chief of clinical operations: “In corrections, patients’ dental needs commonly require hands-on care for treatment such as fillings and teeth extraction. Thus, there is limited need for telemedicine with dental services except for remote triage. Centurion’s programs currently do not perform telemedicine for dentistry for this purpose; however, Centurion is always willing to implement such services if a client requests this to be provided.”

A 2016 study called Decayed Prospects: A Qualitative Study of

Prison Dental Care and its Impact on Former Prisoners pointed out that after the implementation of the ACA, correctional literature has focused more on inmate medical conditions, but far fewer studies have addressed inmate dental care. The researchers found that dental care protocols were such that they often discouraged inmates from seeking treatment, thus resulting in or exacerbating damage. They further found that the social and psychological implications with such damage during reintegration were “profound” and providing dental care can have long-term positive effects on inmates that extend beyond their time in prison, and insufficient health care can have a negative impact on reentry efforts.

Dental health may affect not only the inmate but society as a whole. “Dental health also affects offenders’ feelings about themselves, employability, and capacity to successfully reenter society.”

As opposed to tattoos, which are applied deliberately and can usually be easily hidden, dental issues are difficult to hide.

“Dental problems invite stigmatization and can symbolically eliminate the boundaries between imprisonment and freedom, extending the perception of confinement beyond the lengths of actual sentences.” Says Newman on the matter, “If they considered dentistry like medicine, they would save tremendous amounts of money. That’s the reality.” %

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BY KATRINA STROUD, CONTRIBUTING WRITER & DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

44

th

Annual APPA Training Institute To Be Held August 18-21

S.F. show set to feature innovations in monitoring and case management software, intensive sessions for supervisors, and speakers discussing criminal justice reform.

T

he 44th Annual American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) conference to be held August 18-21 in San Francisco will host workshops, intensive sessions, guest speakers, and a Resource Expo designed to help shape America’s future through the roles of probation and parole officers. This goal of this year’s theme—Passion, Courage, and Endurance: Transforming Community Corrections—is to address critical social issues in the adult and juvenile justice systems by promoting public safety and to 24 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion in justice system program development.

Speakers Van Jones, Charles Robinson and Dr. Jaime Brower will be delivering the three main general sessions on each day of the conference. First, on the evening of August 18, Jones, the CEO of REFORM Alliance, an activist organization whose goal is to reduce the mass flow of incarceration, will be presenting the opening session titled Van Jones, Criminal Justice Reform Fighter. Jones is also the host on CNN’s four-part series podcast,

Incarceration, Inc., exploiting the for-profit industries that keep the prisoners incarcerated and the expenses that keep the prisoners behind bars.

Charles Robinson, who is the deputy chief of the Probation & Pretrial Services Office of the Administrative Office of the United States, will be presenting the plenary speech titled Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Probation in the Criminal Justice Reform Era. Robinson is the author of Decision Points as well as coauthor of three other cognitivebased programs used in correc-

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tions. Decision Points is a grouporiented, cognitive program designed to steer offenders away from thoughts that lead to trouble or problems and how to think more motivated thoughts.

Another of his programs, What Are They Thinking: Techniques for Addressing Risk Factors with Offenders, involves a problemsolving process to address violation behavior and Stopping Abuse for Everyone-SAFE is a program designed to help offenders make and maintain changes in abusive behavior. Robinson believes that the work of probation officers and community supervision officers can help clients interact within their communities.

Dr. Jamie Brower, PSY.D, ABPP, an American Board Certified specialist in Police and Safety Psychology and academy president of the American Board of Police and Public Safety Specialty Board, has spent her career dedicated to working with those in law enforcement, corrections, detentions, fire, military, and other high stress occupations.

She will be the closing session speaker on August 21.

Along with these talks, a number of exhibitors will be showcasing the latest in technological advancements by companies to help promote best practices to be used going forward. A new wave of technological ideas can help slow the process of mass incarceration and to help offenders work safely among others in public during their probation and parole supervision. Show organizers say it promises to be a show of passion, courage and endurance.

Bluetooth-enabled Tester Smart Start has announced the introduction of BreathCheck.™ BreathCheck is a discreet, Bluetooth-enabled device that operates alongside Smart Start’s mobile app, testing the user’s breath alcohol concentration 26 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

Adult and Juvenile Supervision in One Tyler Supervision™ provides supervision and probation clients with a comprehensive, easy-touse SaaS product to manage pro-

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Sharing Monitoring Expertise Attenti’s mission is to create a positive social impact by providing innovative Electronic Monitoring Solutions it reports to be superior quality and value for law enforcement and corrections agencies. Since 1994, it has been assisting government agencies

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Programming, Treatment & Monitoring The Northpointe Suite Specialty Court System from equivant comes complete with industry-leading risk/needs assessment, case management,

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comes. The system easily consumes lab results and other data and allows for team collaboration. Personalized views let you access the information you need– whether judge, docket coordinator, case manager, supervision officer, or treatment provider.

1.800.406.4333, katie.brachel@equivant.com, www.equivant.com

behavior and lifestyle changes, comply with supervision terms and reduce FTAs. Empower your court, agency, case managers and clients with Catalyst. Learn more at APPA, Booth CV20.

949.260.3002, www.cfive.com

in administering tablets, which saves valuable time. sales@securustechnologies.com, 1.972.277.0300, www.securustechnologies.tech

Access to Critical Content

Intoxalock has over 25 years of ignition interlock expertise and continues to be a leader in the industry with reliable

Securus Technologies SecureView® Tablet Make Mine feature helps offenders get equal access to critical content, helping them to become successful now and in the future. This exclusive

Ignition Interlock Devices

Automated Reporting Solution Goodbye ineffective mail-in, phone, web and kiosk reporting.

CFive Catalyst takes automated reporting and client communica-

devices, convenient locations and unbeatable customer support, they say. With customers in all 50 states and more locations than any other ignition interlock provider, Intoxalock makes the process quick and convenient. The company has a location within 15 miles of more than 91% of all customers.

1.844.677.9243, www.intoxalock.com

EBP Supervision System program puts applications such as Education, eBooks, Law Library and Job Search right at the users’ fingertips. This patent-pending feature reduces staff involvement

JusticeTools: the most advanced Evidence Based Practice (EBP) Case Management System, the company says. Developed for modern day officers to address evolving trends in correctional

tion to a new level—for clients, courts and agencies. Catalyst’s unique functionality raises the baseline of your ability to monitor, manage and assist clients, notes the company. Clients are empowered to make positive VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET

CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019 27

industries, the application provides guidelines and decision matrixes for different decision points that officers and executive managements face on a daily basis. JusticeTools systems are designed to enhance officer’s core practice principles skills through builtin Organizational Development and EPICS modules.

With extensive Case Profile Summary, Detention, Assessment, Case Planning, Response Grid and other

EBP modules, JusticeTools is the system that best fits many overall supervision needs. sales@JusticeTools.com, 844.382.8600, www.JusticeTools.com

Training System + Online Network Envisage Technologies builds public safety software based on a single, powerful principle: we want to ensure that our nation’s first responders come home alive, they say.

Its Acadis® Readiness Suite is a robust training management system that automates complex, high-liability training and compliance operations.

In addition, FirstForward® is an online training network for public safety. The free account provides access to more than 700 courses and enables you to track training and certifications in one secure online record. info@envisagenow.com, 812.330.7101, www.envisagenow.com

Turnkey Solutions for Compliance & Treatment Adventfs delivers turnkey solutions for increased

efficiency and profitability to criminal justice agencies across the United States. For corrections professionals, adventfs provides a sophisticated, affordable suite of compliance and document management solutions and detainee fee recovery services, it reports.

The adventfs eLearning platform provides online delivery and management of evidence-based defendant treatment programs for prosecutors, courts, and probation professionals.

1.866.494.8556, info@adventfs.com, www.adventfs.com

Continuum of Care Tool Vant4gePoint is a revolutionary SaaS platform that connects referring agencies, providers, and clients throughout the correctional continuum of care, they say.

Our unique microservices architecture, high level of configurability, and repository of integration APIs gives organizations the tools to collect, manage, and exchange critical information such as interventions, referrals and treatment progress—on one single platform—creating a virtual care group to support client success. Contact us today to see how we can assist your organization.

1.877.277.3778, info@vant4ge.com, www.vant4ge.com 28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

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BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Counter Drone Technology Dedrone ‘s DroneTracker user interface software (shown) works with its RF-100 radio frequency sensors that detect and classify drones while its RF300 identifies the drone’s location.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), aka drones, are becoming more than a mere nuisance.

Gatwick Airport near London, England, was “plunged into chaosâ€? according to one report, when hundreds of flights were cancelled last December 18 to 21, following reports of drone sightings close to the runway. In the end, the repeated intrusions caused major disruption, affect30 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

ing approximately 140,000 passengers and 1,000 flights.

Speaking about the criminal nature of the incident, Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said the drone flights were “highly targeted� and had “been designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run up to Christmas.�

Federal defense agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, are taking the threat of drones seriously. Critical infrastructure such as chemical, energy, cyber and water infrastructure, ports and military installations can be targeted from the air, where fences and locks and keys can’t protect them.

And while drones can drop

their payloads into restricted areas, they are cause for concern of much more than that. With drones, “People can surveil the area taking hi-def video, and also scan with various sensors— infrared, lidar—and get a very accurate, detailed picture of a landscape,� notes Rob Thompson, co-founder C-UAS Coalition & Falcon Foundation UAS, L.L.C. They can then feed the data into a computer and build it up into an animation that’s “almost like you’re there.

It’s very, very precise.�

Never before have prisons had to fight this third dimension—a threat from the sky.

In fact a March 2019 study by Germany and San Francisco-

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Dedrone provides technology to correctional facilities to prevent drones from threatening the security and safety of operations.

based company Dedrone and a state Department of Corrections points out how many attacks may be occurring—sometimes just under the noses of officials as they stand by unaware. The study, titled Dedrone Corrections Airspace Security Study, which encompassed five locations—a state penitentiary, three correctional complexes and a training center—began in March 2018 and lasted nine months.

It found over 400 instances where Dedrone’s DroneTracker detected unauthorized drones throughout the five sites. Those numbers corroborate the notion that no correctional facility is immune to such intrusions.

Following the study, says Dedrone CEO Joerg Lamprecht, corrections customers learned “how unaware they are of drone intrusion. They don’t see or hear them, so they conclude it’s not a big problem.�

Sales of drones are on the rise: The FAA estimates UAS sales will rise from 2.5 million in 2016 to 7 million by 2020. Likewise, the overall number of incidents is growing, Lamprecht believes, and the devices are getting more capable and holding more payload. The threat of tiny drones, that one can buy for $20 in a 32 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

local gas station, constitute concern for corrections, he says.

They can do a flyover, provide reconnaissance or make a contraband drop—in about two seconds. The drone may then fly out or it can simply be discarded.

There’s no need to recover it.

The study spotlights a case study in Ohio DOC where prison officials had to fend off riots after a drone dropped contraband.

According to the study: “One of the first publicly documented drone incidents occurred in 2015 when the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections reported a yard fight broke out between 75 inmates after a drone dropped off a package in the yard, [which included] 144.5 grams of tobacco, 65.4 grams of marijuana and 6.6 grams of heroin that were dropped from the air. A fight ensued and the package was thrown out of sight into the prison’s south yard. Officers had to use pepper spray to get the situation under control, and inmates were later strip-searched before being allowed to return to their cells.�

Some prisons are now beginning to address the issue. In

Kentucky DOC, Director Coleman Morrell says that up until recently “we were only aware of drones in our airspace when [we] looked up into the air, which is not very easy to do.

Since we have installed the Dedrone software and hardware protection suite, we now have an alert that gets generated any time a drone enters our airspace within about a mile surrounding our facility.�

He furthers that the set up of those sensors has given them hard numbers about the frequencies they are flying, the duration and an important piece—the time of day.

In fact, “flying after dark is particularly concerning to us,� he says, “because hobbyists are not allowed to fly after dark.�

Receiving those concrete numbers has allowed them to evaluate and know where to spend the money to best overcome the flyovers.

Drones use RF technology to communicate between pilot and drone. Likewise Dedrone uses RF technology for detection, causing the drones to trigger alarms when flying in prison airspace and to send notifications to security on the ground. The software proContinues on page 41

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Summer ACA Draws Crowds in Boston From cell phone detectors to inmate wristband trackers, the latest in tech for the corrections industry.

orrections administrators and staff from all over the country are meeting in Boston August 1-6 to investigate the latest in emerging technologies and hone their leadership skills at the American Correctional Association’s (ACA’s) 149th Congress of Correction held at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center.

This year’s keynote speaker is former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who will share some of his insights and experiences in government and law enforcement over the years. As the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey for seven

C

34 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

years, he led the fight on terrorism in the post-9/11 period, increased resources to fight gang violence, gun crimes and political corruption.

The winners of 2019 E.R. Cass Correctional Achievement Awards were announced as: J. David Donahue, senior vice president, U.S. Corrections and Detention, and Mary L. Livers, owner, Livers Corrections Consulting, and parttime adjunct professor at Louisiana State University International Operations.

There are hundreds of workshops, meetings and events, that allow attendees to educate themselves and network with peers.

Other highlights include a one-day training class on opioid

use disorders medication-assisted treatment as well as the correctional behavioral health training and certification program.

The conference also spotlights an exhibit hall packed with new cutting-edge products and services for the corrections market.

Here’s a sampling of some of the latest products and services that are drawing crowds.

Correctional Food Services Trinity provides more than 30 years of experience to present innovative solutions, operating efficiencies and technology-forward services to allow its correctional partners to go back to the

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IMAGE COURTESY OF KYLE KLEIN PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE GREATER BOSTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

business of running their facility. They are continuously refining their resources, skills and expertise to exceed the food service needs of large and small correctional facilities. To help reinforce a sense of order and control within your facility, the company makes sure that all food is properly prepared and presented. They are showcasing services such as Trinity Sourcing Solutions, Trinity Take Out and Work Feed Succeed to support a facility’s inmate feeding program.

1.855.705.5538, www.trinityservicesgroup.com

tion of many of the booking and record-keeping tasks of any size detention facility.

1.205.949.9900, www.blackcreek.com

RFID Wristband Scanning Guard1 RFID wristband scanning helps correctional facilities automate and organize officer tasks.

Guard1 documents well-being checks, inmate activ-

Tablet Rentals Securus Technologies SecureView Tablet Make Mine feature helps offenders get equal access to critical content, helping them to become successful now and in the future. This exclusive program puts applications such as Education, eBooks, Law Library and Job Search right at the users’ fingertips. This patent-pending feature reduces staff involvement in administering tablets, which saves valuable time. sales@securustechnologies.com, 1.972.277.0300, www.securustechnologies.tech

ities, handouts, meal and medication distribution, with control room alerts and staff notifications for incomplete or missed rounds. The Guard1 system includes real time inmate tracking, personal alarm devices for officers and staff, and Guard1 Real Time Software.

1.800.THE.PIPE, www.guard1.com

Jail Management System SallyPort is a web-based, enterprise class, fully agency-configurable jail management system developed exclusively to meet the management needs of local, city, and county-level jails. Easy to use software makes the process of booking and detention fast and simple. It works seamlessly with records

management systems, commissary systems, inmate telephone systems, and other third-party applications to promote information sharing and automaVISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET

CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019 35

Protective Vest Combining the ergonomic design of a concealable carrier with the functionality of a load– bearing vest, the Admin ODC provides the best combination of

ny is featuring their latest programs for the corrections market.

1.800.729.0069, www.corizonhealth.com

Identification Systems Endur ID designs and manufactures customizable identity and tracking solutions for detainees

tion, they have added the alltime favorite Menudo Hispanic soup to round out the product line. For those wanting some all American comfort food, they also introduced new Lyndel Dean’s Original Recipe Fried Chicken.

1.310.604.4626, www.unionsupplygroup.com

Experience and Innovation With just under three decades of industry experience, Wexford Health offers economic, clinically sound programs to manage correctional health care costs while

comfort, versatility and spike protection. Ideally suited for daily wear, the Admin ODC allows for rapid insertion of Point Blank’s spike and/or ballistic panels. In minutes, the corrections officer has protection in a lightweight, exceptionally durable carrier that can be easily adapted to any environment.

1.800.413.5155, www.pointblankenterprises.com

Correctional Health Services Corizon Health is member of the Valitas Health Services corporate family and offers quality health care services to states and municipalities across the country offering the only comprehensive

solution for physical care, behavioral care and pharmaceutical services. With its corporate headquarters in Brentwood, Tenn., Corizon Health is a top provider of correctional healthcare services in the United States. The compa36 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

and inmates. Endur ID’s solution includes Secure MAX Identification Wristbands, which are produced in color and are water resistant and durable, paired with the Secur Loc clasps for wristband security. Completing the solution is the IDMX Identification Management Software, designed to manage and produce identification bands as well the Secure Trak bar coded tracking solutions to track and record detainees’ activities within the facility using handheld scanners.

1.603.758.1488, www.endurid.com

Hispanic Meal Options Hispanic food items have always been popular in prison commissaries, and Union Supply Group rolled out three new Hispanic Comal meals: Asado de Cerdo, Chilorio de Cerdo and Carne de Cerdo al Pastor. In addi-

maintaining quality of care.

Contact them to learn how Wexford Health’s comprehensive clinical expertise, state-of-the-art technological solutions, and innovative strategies can help improve your facility’s bottom line.

1.888.MED.MGMT (633.6468), www.wexfordhealth.com

Electronic Operating System TechCare is NaphCare’s comprehensive electronic operating system. Beyond providing electronic health records (EHR), ONC-certified TechCare is a corrections-specific operational system that automates, standardizes, and enforces proactive inmate care. It also connects NaphCare,

its on-site staff, and its clients in a way that no other system can, providing on-demand, transparent information and communication regarding healthcare services. Designed with users in mind by correctional health clinicians, TechCare is said to be versatile, easy to use and proven.

844.849.3211, http://techcareehr.com

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Aramark’s Cooking Up Something New at ACA Boston It’s time for the big reveal!

Check out Aramark’s new booth at this year’s ACA conference, where they’ll take you on a tasty tour of innovative solutions for officer dining, offender programming and new additions to the IN2WORK vocational training that have a marked impact on reducing recidivism. Aramark reports it offers comprehensive, flexible food & commissary services to agencies looking for a true partner at the forefront of the industry. www.aramark.com/corrections

Security Toothbrush Bob Barker’s Exo-Frame Toothbrush is said to be like no other security toothbrush in the

corrections industry. The unique construction of the toothbrush reduces the chance of it from being turned into a weapon by bending, snapping or sanding, all while being durable enough to clean teeth properly.

1.800.334.9880, www.bobbarker.com

Cell Detector The illegal use of cell phones is a growing and significant threat to prison security and circumvent the monitoring process, while allowing inmates to commit new crimes both inside and outside the facility. The CEIA MSD detects all cell phones and other ferrous or magnetized contraband concealed on the person or in body cavities (including key fob 38 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

cell phones, smart phones, radio transceivers, etc.) quickly and easily. The onepiece design allows the MSD to be easily transported and operational in 10 seconds. ferromagnetic@ceiausa.com, 1.440.561.7615, www.ceiafmd.com

tion also removes the most common source of metal used for inking in facilities. The full head of soft nylon bristles provides increased inmate satisfaction while improving facility safety.

1.888.296.6730, www.orabrite.net

Access Control System

Cashless Vending System Microtronic US offers a cashless jail vending system that is mostly geared for visitors but can also fully integrate with trust accounts. If your facility is looking for a cashless prison vending system with no fees and no moving parts, this is the solution. Most facilities use existing equipment and their sys-

The Millennium PACS unit was created with personnel safety in mind, combining functionality with the highest level of security available through design. It effectively protects personnel from direct contact with violent and

destructive inmates and is proven to increase security, safety, and savings, the company says.

1.888.242.2219, www.millenniumpacs.com

Metal Detection

tem is purchased by the vending machine operator or state owned.

1.800.879.3586, www.microtronicus.com

Secure Brush Oraline introduced the latest generation 9000 series security toothbrush, the ORA90050. New innovative construction allows for a slimmer profile that maximizes flexibility while minimizing available material for manipulation. Manufactured without staples this new head construc-

Fed-Labs metal detection equipment secures high-traffic, high-risk venues such as government buildings and correctional facilities.

From portals capable of spotting hard-to-find weapons and threats as small as a needle to a selection of versatile handheld units, these detectors deliver outstanding performance, it is reported. Whether performing routine high-traffic entry and exit screening to searching for hidden weapons or preventing theft, there’s a Fed-Labs metal detector that meets the most rigorous target discrimination and throughput specifications.

1.800.231.6414, www.autoclear.com

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BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Analog Vs. Digital Security Cameras What are the issues in making the switch?

While IP cameras deliver advantages such as ease of search, higher resolution and scalability, analog systems have benefits as well.

T

oday IP cameras are much desired and the future for surveillance at high security prisons and jails. But with limited budgets, prison procurement staff may find it difficult to dispose of all the investment they made into their analog surveillance system.

Similar to the reluctance that photographers felt several years back in parting with their trusted 35mm cameras—as well as their entire outfit of lenses, flashes, filters and other specialized accessories—going to all digital may require scrapping older technology, in perfectly good working order, and starting over. Making the switch undoubtedly requires a hefty financial outlay that can

put off an upgrade.

Once the investment is made in digital CCTV surveillance cameras, however, the streamlined work and manpower savings, plus the potential for increased security—could overcome the expenditure outlay. Moreover, if you wish to conserve your present camera system, fortunately there are ways to effectively convert analog cameras into IP cameras with video encoders, according to those in the field.

IP Video Advantages First, the benefits of converting to an IP camera system. Digital IP systems have several advantages over older CCTV analog technology, including the ability to per-

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form advanced searches, ease of use, bolstered storage and compression, no degradation of the image, simultaneous record and playback, and more, according to the Cincinnati company Aegis Protective Services, which provides guard services, patrol services and security integration.

In addition, the company furthers, digital cameras have secure and virtually unlimited storage capacity, in that storage has to do with hard disk space, not tapes or other media. IP cameras are also able to store footage offsite, which can be retrieved from any location due to cloud computing.

Storing data redundantly offsite bolsters security.

Moreover, important for supervisory personnel, footage can be CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019 39

IP security cameras offer an advantage in that footage can be watched on virtually any digital device over an Internet connection.

watched or retrieved from a variety of Internet-connected devices, permitting managers to view recordings from wherever they happen to be or investigators to retrieve footage offsite when conducting analysis and/or investigations.

Digital systems also enable users to quickly take snapshots of incidents or intruders and send those images through digital communication, furthers Aegis. At the same time, digital systems enable users to allow others, such as law enforcement, to have access to the system by providing passwords.

A further plus, IP cameras have the ability to contain three or four cameras in one, which can cover an area that may normally take multiple cameras to cover, according to Security magazine (April 2018). “You’re basically running four cameras,” says Tim Sutton, director of security at GHG Management in the article.

“They actually go in as one signal through one cable to your system, and it only costs one license too.”

Further, there is ease of installation. Whereas an analog camera takes two wires, an IP camera only takes one for both data and power that connects to a network 40 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

switch, so you don’t need power at the camera site.

Next is lower cost of ownership.

Without the need for time-lapse video equipment, changing tapes, and cataloging, IP cameras have a much lower maintenance cost.

IP cameras boast performance.

These camera systems provide a higher level of video quality without any image degradation, and the quality just keeps getting better with each new iteration.

You can also focus and zoom in remotely, adds Sutton.

IP cameras provide superior intelligence and analytics. They are basically small computers that compress and store video, plus they can be programmed to provide all sorts of analytics, notes the Security (ital.) article. They can detect motion or smoke, count people, track certain colors, sense when something disappears, and set off alarms.

Digitizing allows you to quickly find the video you need. IP video is easier to search, states Aegis. Want to know when that car arrived without watching hours of video? Search small changes in big areas with its thumbnail search. Or, use its pixel search to find movement

in one small area of the frame.

Benefits of an Analog System While IP is clearly the way to go if you are installing an entire new camera system, there are some benefits of analog if you already have a system installed.

According to Security, the most obvious reason to stick with your analog system is the price tag.

Analog cameras tend to be significantly cheaper, especially as your camera count increases.

There is a larger pool of installers and vendors: Since analog cameras have been around for years and because they are fairly simple to install, you may have an easier time finding an installer, as well as a vendor, says Christopher Lanni, president and founder of Secure Residential and corporate risk adviser for Barkan Management, according the article.

Simplicity is another plus: Analog cameras are fairly easy to run, sending recordings to a digital video recorder (DVR), which then converts the analog to digital and stores it. DVRs are also simple to set up and run. Lastly, digital video is encrypted and authenticated so transmission is secure.

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For some agencies, however, the swap may not be in the immediate cards. If funding is prohibitive now, there may be a way to convert analog to IP, according to Aegis. The wiring used in analog CCTV Systems is extremely different from the UTP6 or UTP5 wiring used in digital surveillance systems, the company says. An analog-to-IP converter or encoder includes BNC input adapters on one side of the device and slots for UTP output on the other end. “In order to convert an analog camera system into an IP camera system,” notes Aegis, “simply connect the BNC connector on one end of the coax wire, which runs from the camera system to the converter’s input. Then connect the UTP cable that runs from the server or router into the output slot of the converter for the UTP.”

Making the Switch Okay, so say you do find some money in the budget for IP cameras. If, as most corrections agencies, you are on a tight budget, consider replacing a few cameras at a time, suggests the Security article.

“I would run what’s called a hybrid system,” says Sutton. “I would keep my analogs if I couldn’t afford to do them all, replace the ones that are the most important, and then build a plan to switch them all over to IP as the analogs die.” He says five years maximum is a good rule of thumb to budget for how long a camera will last.

It may also be an apropos time to revisit your security plan. When converting your system it’s “a perfect time to re-evaluate your risk and your vulnerabilities, and see where you’re going to need to replace cameras,” Sutton says. “Your system may not be giving you what you need as it is, and it may not be just because it’s analog.” This may be a great opportunity to reanalyze your overall system and add cameras where needed.

Build your system for future growth potential.

No one ever seems to want fewer cameras going into the future, so make certain your system is scalable so you can add cameras down the road.

Think about lighting. “Light is one of the most important things to consider in designing a camera system, and people overlook it all the time,” Sutton says. “There’s really no one camera that can do everything. You need to have the right camera for the right application.”

Finally, think about issues associated with your purchase. Storage capacities and policy, such as how long you keep the video and who you share it with, backup power, redundancy for critical video, plus maintenance in the event of a breakdown. It’s amazing how ongoing maintenance costs are often neglected, says Lanni. And now is the time to think about replacement—yes, you read right, replacement. “The reality is,” he adds, “as soon as you put a piece of equipment in place, you need to be thinking about replacement.” % VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET

Drone Continued from page 32 vides situational awareness of pilot and drone, including the exact flight path from an omnidirectional range of about 1 mile. Local authorities can also be alerted for a coordinated response.

In Georgia, the Department of Corrections has also been having issues fighting drones, according to the Sept 29, 2018 episode of Vice News on HBO. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot prison officials can do due to a handful of state and federal laws that prohibit, among other things, shooting the drone out of the sky. So the GDC has partnered with a New Jersey-based company called AeroDefense to test a drone detection system called AirWarden.

This system likewise detects the Radio Frequency signals emitted by a drone or controllers and uses them to locate the device. It also sends notifications to security on the ground.

Another company that delivers counter drone capabilities is Tarsier, with offices in San Francisco and Munich. It was founded at Stanford University and its patent-pending machine learning (AI) technology was incubated under the U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group (H4D program) and provides fully autonomous aerial threat awareness, including detection, tracking, classification, and identification.

DroneShield, based in Sydney, Australia, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and London, utilizes a multi-sensor approach to analyze and identify incoming threats. The radar sensor tracks a moving object, separating it from the background clutter, such as trees or birds. The radio frequency sensor provides a direction of bearing to the target, matching a set of RF signatures, which are regularly updated. Finally camera and thermal sensors allow for a visual confirmation to the user, with an ability for high definition zoom during day or night.

Because drone intrusion is a relatively new threat, legislation to fully prosecute offenders will likely take years, notes counter drone company Tarsier. To abide by current laws, a local jail commander or prison director is prohibited from actively taking down a drone, even when they fly through prison airspace without authorization.

“That makes detection a first and necessary step for understanding and responding to this emerging threat,” furthers Tarsier. While regulations and laws can be put into place going forward, “the situational awareness created by detection provides the ability to passively mitigate the threat. Once aware, you can build a threat response plan tailored to your facility.”

Sums up Director Morrell of Kentucky DOC: “We already have a very good handle on what’s happening inside of our facilities, so to have a concrete knowledge what’s happening above our facilities has really helped us keep our staff safer, which keeps everyone else safe as well. “ % CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019 41

AD INDEX

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Jpay, Inc. .......................15 Keefe Group .................44 Medi-Dose Company..........4, 25,35 NaphCare .....................19 Point Blank Industries ....5 Renco............................42 Sentry Security Fasteners, Inc. ...........13 StunCuff Enterprises, Inc. ..........8 STV Architects, Inc .........4 Swintec Corporation ....22 Swisslog Healthcare .....21

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TrinityServices Group, Inc. ..................9 Union Supply Group ....33 1000 Facilities Nationwide 44 States - Federal in all 50 States Correctional Vision Care Since 1983

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42 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2019

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