Monroe County, Fla. – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) gave Local 10 an inside look at the department’s body scanning technology that detects potential contraband before it enters the jail.
Last week, a scan revealed powder cocaine, crack cocaine and seven grams of fentanyl hidden in a 41-year-old woman’s body, agents said.
“Seven grams is enough to kill hundreds of people. If it had broken, she would have died instantly,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsey.
A major west block center scanner was purchased in 2013.
„I purchased this scanner for the safety of this facility, my men and women who work there, and the inmates,” Ramsey said. „Last year we found a gun inside a person.”
Scans can show metal objects, some prosthetic devices, and potential contraband hidden on the body or in „suitcases.”
The National Institute of Justice recently declared „a terrifying threat in correctional facilities across the country.” Recent headlines have shown how scanners have detected items such as hidden pills, scissors and guns.
Miami-Dade corrections officials told Local 10 they installed low-volume, full-body X-ray scanners in 2018. In a statement, the MDCR department said it was „able to prevent a large volume of trafficking within our facilities.” including those hidden internally and externally in an individual’s body.”
The Broward Sheriff’s Office has documented 36 incidents of being barred during the intake process using the SecurePass body scanner.
„I want people to know that I have it and I use it,” Ramsey said of the technology in Keys. „It’s for the security of the facility, and people who try to put it in a suitcase in there will get into more trouble.”
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