Penetanguishene superjail correctional officers will soon have another tool at their disposal to combat contraband.
“Specialized devices that help detect and locate contraband cellphones are in the process of being delivered to all 25 provincial correctional facilities,” Ministry of the Solicitor General spokesman Andrew Morrison told MidlandToday.
“The total cost for all devices is approximately $225,000.”
According to the province, prohibited cellphones are a growing concern within facilities and can be used by inmates for criminal activities, to intimidate witnesses or share security details from within an institution.
“The unauthorized use of cellphones is a serious threat to the safety of corrections staff and inmates and is being used to conduct criminal activity inside and outside of our facilities,” Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said in a statement.
“These new cellphone detectors are an important tool in our strategy to combat contraband and ensure correctional staff are equipped with the modern tools and technology needed to do their job safely and securely.”
The move is part of the government’s strategy to enhance security and improve staff and inmate safety. The new cellphone detectors are expected to add another important tool that complements the use of ion scanners introduced at 11 adult correctional facilities, including Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC), across the province earlier this year.
But Richard Dionne, president of CNCC Local 369 and a corrections officer at the superjail, said contraband cellphones haven’t been a major issue at his facility.
“I'm aware of very few instances of inmates having cellphones in their possession within our institution,” Dionne said. “This has been an issue at other institutions, where inmates are posting videos from within custody, but none of those incidents, to my knowledge, have occurred here.”
However, Dionne noted that any equipment introduced by the government to help combat any type of contraband is helpful to the safety and security at the province's correctional centres.
“That being said, as with all other new technological equipment, there's a need for training,” he said. “Months ago, MidlandToday reached out about ion scanners.
“Training and use of this equipment remains very limited at CNCC. Consider the length of time before staff were trained on the body scanner. These are all vital and helpful tools, so long as staff are properly trained in their function.”
Morrison said training on the new devices should begin shortly after they’re delivered.
“Once a correctional facility receives its devices, training for authorized staff will be arranged and the devices will be in operation once training is completed,” he said.
Besides the two devices added so far this year, correctional facilities also employ body scanners, hand-held and walk-through metal detectors with searches and canine units also available to staff to prevent, detect, confiscate and reduce contraband within institutions.
The province noted in a release that “these initiatives are important steps in a broader strategy to combat contraband, building on the government’s commitment to invest more than $500 million over five years to transform adult correctional services in Ontario.”
