what do police do with large amounts of contraband

from multiple countries with the intent to distribute them. Staff should closely monitor the movement of contraband goods, and that monitoring starts with an understanding of the various definitions of contraband and the dangers each type present.The head of a police union in the San Francisco Bay Area faces federal charges for allegedly smuggling thousands of synthetic opioids into the U.S. The existence of contraband also shatters the public’s perception of security. The introduction of illicit goods into our institution facilitates escapes, compromises staff, and lowers morale. One prisoner giving a cigarette to another may be payback for a nefarious act.

A few betting slips may be the starting point for a widespread gambling empire. The simple trade of candy, for instance, can be a cover for protection services. One of the most common hazards in corrections occurs when staff underestimate the far-reaching nature of seemingly harmless, but forbidden goods and services. With such an empire, inmates can procure weapons, narcotics, loyalty, and outside help, all of which can destabilize the security of any institution. With planning and work, the smallest gambling enterprise has the potential to develop into a large trading empire inside the walls. For enterprising prisoners, trade in illicit goods and the performance of prohibited services are the building blocks of power.

For example, prisoners can use staff credit card information to coerce officers into lax rule enforcement, or for entrapment in a set-up scheme.Ĭontraband is power for prisoners - it allows them to gain power over others. Of course, contraband is also anything that is explicitly illegal, such as narcotics or firearms.Įven information can be considered contraband. Things in this category include money, maps, exempt policy directives, or officer uniforms. Often it is something that may not seem inherently dangerous, but is still forbidden by policy. Cell phones are an insidious and prevalent form of contraband currently plaguing the country's prisons and jails.

What do police do with large amounts of contraband