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Released by: Sgt. William Bailey – Public Information Officer
Release Date: July 12, 2019
NARRATIVE:
Over the past several months, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Adult Jail has been training and implementing the use of a body scanner into the jail to combat the illegal introduction of drugs and contraband. Individuals that are booked into the jail at times will attempt to bring items into the jail that are either illegal, dangerous, or not permitted into our facility. Whether it’s tobacco, drugs, or weapons, inmates will do whatever it takes to get something in if they have an agenda to do so. Much of this contraband comes in during the booking process, by inmates attempting to hide it in their mouth, clothing, stomach, and body cavities. It makes it very difficult for our correctional professionals to find it with normal pat searches and unclothed searches.
Sheriff L. Shane Nelson has spent the last three years working with the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA) to bring body scanners to Sheriff’s Offices across the State of Oregon. The OSSA understands that contraband is a serious issue and they wanted to take immediate action to find a solution to this important safety issue. Their hard work and dedication has allowed OSSA to negotiate a reduced price on the latest technology in body scanners from Smiths Detection. Negotiations have not only reduced the price significantly, the cost of training, shipping, installation and support has been included with the purchase of this product. Other jails that have also purchased body scanners under this opportunity include Lincoln and Yamhill counties, as well as NORCOR, or Northern Oregon Regional Correction Facility. NORCOR serves Wasco, Hood River, Sherman and Gilliam counties.
Drugs and contraband inside our correctional facility threatens the safety of the inmates, as well as the deputies supervising them. Drugs reach inmates in numerous ways – and correctional professionals are finding more illegal contraband coming into the jail with the inmates in light of the opioid epidemic. For the safety of our inmates and correctional professionals, we are bringing this new technology in our jail to help combat the problem. For more information about the body scanner being used visit: https://www.smithsdetection.com/products/b-scan/
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with four K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today lead by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves the nearly 190,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 230 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 187 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
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