![]() Although a very successful operation, this was a long-term multi-jurisdictional operation that required thousands of hours devoted to electronic monitoring, surveillance and screening operations, not to mention luck. On sweep day, 11 people were arrested or charged, resulting in a 100% conviction rate. Thankfully, the introduction of a firearm was considered too risky by the inmate arranging it because it was to be used to assassinate a staff member – specifically me. The contraband included marijuana, cell phones, narcotics, cash – and plans to introduce a firearm. Primarily, family members would send contraband disguised as legal mail or bookstore shipments, or hide it outside the facility where inmate work crews could recover it and introduce it to the facility via dirty mop buckets. Over the next several months, it was determined that this conspiracy included white supremacists, a street gang and tagging crew members, inmate associates and family members, including sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers. Once I was able to handle these cases, it became apparent that there was a much broader conspiracy at play than I had initially thought. As it turns out, the mailroom was so inundated with contraband that they had decided to wait until the rush of packages was over to contact me so that I would not be making constant trips to the mailroom.įrankly, I was overwhelmed with the number of cases that this flood of contraband-laden boxes represented. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a pile of narcotics contraband boxes. After hearing nothing from the mailroom for several days, I went to the mailroom to check in with the staff. Knowing that a flood of contraband into the mailroom was likely to occur when the inmates were told that the policy would change on a specific date, the mailroom was instructed to notify me as contraband was discovered. ![]() Although it was well known to inmates and staff that contraband was being introduced through the mail while this policy was in place, it became apparent when the policy changed that the amount of contraband being introduced through the mail was more than anyone could have imagined. This policy was initially implemented to ensure that the inmates had a process to obtain quality of life items without buying them from the commissary at a higher cost. ![]() Prior to the change in policy, inmates could have socks, T-shirts, underwear, books, writing materials and other items mailed to them. Although we were beginning to understand the breadth and depth of this inmate’s operations, the sheer size of this conspiracy did not become apparent until the policy regarding what items and how items could be mailed to inmates was changed. Interestingly enough, it was not until the third time this inmate was caught with contraband that an in-depth investigation into the inmate’s activities was undertaken. As with many contraband investigations, this one began when an inmate was caught with prohibited items, specifically cash and marijuana. While assigned to the Denver County Jail as a gang/intelligence investigator early in my career, we became aware of a multifaceted contraband introduction ring involving dozens of co-conspirators inside and outside the facility. IDENTIFYING CONTRABAND IN THE COUNTY JAIL Best of all, when mail contraband mailed to a facility is not detected, facility staff delivers the contraband directly to you. For example, there is no need to recruit a staff member to bring contraband to them when an inmate can find a friend or relative to mail contraband to them. Without fail, inmates will choose the path of least resistance. Regardless of the inmate, for an individual to successfully get contraband, they must have access to the contraband directly or to people who can facilitate the introduction of contraband. Make sure your facility is equipped with an effective contraband interdiction plan, as well as the tools to detect these threats to security. Mail remains a key route for smuggling contraband behind bars.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |