Corrections_Today_Fall_2025_Vol.87_No.3

COMMITTEES

Contraband deterrence: The key is vigilance Community Corrections Committee By Michael Randle

C orrectional facilities across the country have unique challenges in their efforts to support public safety and improve the lives of those who are under their care. One of the biggest chal lenges is reducing opportunities for the introduction of contraband into facilities. A recent article in the Columbus Dispatch noted that the Ohio Department of Rehabili tation and Correction finds illegal drugs in prisons nearly 10,000 times per year. The best practices for contraband deterrence include a robust drug testing program, rou tine announced and unannounced searches, K-9 search teams, x-ray machines, body scanners, camera surveillance, documentation of visitors, contractors, and other non-employees who enter correc tional facilities, and drone detection devices. These efforts are taken with the recognition that attempts to smuggle contraband are ongoing and demand continuous vigilance. There is no magical solution to completely stopping contraband from entering a correctional facil ity. However, continuous training plays a vital role in ensuring staff remain alert and prepared to deter such activity. It is equally important to avoid knee-jerk reactions when

Over the course of my 35-year career in correctional facilities and in collaboration with practitioners nationwide, I have found that accessible and effective drug treatment programs are among the most powerful deterrents to drug use within correctional settings.

responding to contraband incidents, as thoughtful, measured responses are more effective in the long term. Over the course of my 35-year career in correctional facilities and in collaboration with practitioners nationwide, I have found that acces sible and effective drug treatment programs are among the most pow erful deterrents to drug use within correctional settings. The treatment community has long recognized that relapse is often a part of the recov ery process and for many people it can take multiple relapses before they achieve lasting abstinence. The correctional community emphasizes the importance of both accountabil ity and the availability of treatment programs. Accountability involves implementing appropriate sanc tions when drug use is detected and taking immediate action to

shut down any identified contra band routes and monitor for new methods, as individuals struggling with addiction often seek alterna tive ways to circumvent controls. At the same time, treatment must be available in the right setting, at the right time, and through the most effective means. In many cases, a correctional facility can be a criti cal point of intervention, providing substance use and mental health counseling, support, and medication assisted treatment to individuals at a time they might be most likely to respond. CT Michael Randle is the Executive Vice President of Operations at Oriana House; President elect of the International Community Justice Association (ICJA); American Correctional Association (ACA) Board of Governors member and Chair of the ACA Community Corrections Committee.

Corrections Today | Fall 2025

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