New York officials say more contraband is being seized at state prisons than ever before, but the union representing corrections officers says current protocols aren't sufficiently curtailing attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons into correctional facilities.
The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision says the number of incidents involving contraband at the state's 54 prisons more than doubled over the last decade, from 2,540 incidents in 2008 to 5,231 incidents last year.
The agency says its efforts are helped by new technology, including a device that can detect small cellphones someone may be trying to smuggle to an inmate. Officials say they've also nearly doubled the number of drug-detecting K-9 units.
The corrections officers union says "urgent measures" are needed to crack down on attempts to get contraband into prisons.
© 2018 AP
