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DOI report on contraband detection and false positive results
3:47:05
ยท
73 sec
Council Member Stevens asks about the Department of Investigation's report on contraband detection methods used by the DOC. Deputy Commissioner James Conroy responds with information on new procedures implemented to address the issues raised in the report.
- DOC has moved to using TSA-style scanning machines in facilities and mail trailers
- New scanning machines have a much higher accuracy rate for detecting narcotics and drugs
- Field testing is now only used as a preliminary marker before further testing with scanning machines
Althea Stevens
3:47:05
The Department of Investigations released a report this past November stating that the Department of Correction relies on field tests that frequently yield false positive results from fentanyl rather than looking at their own staff.
3:47:17
Are you familiar with the report and the recommendations made by the DOI regarding contraband smuggling?
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
3:47:23
Yes.
3:47:24
I am familiar with it.
3:47:25
I'll turn it over to my general counsel to speak further on this.
3:47:28
Okay.
James Conroy
3:47:28
Yes, thank you.
3:47:29
So I'm familiar with the report and we're familiar with some of the inadequacies relating to the field tests.
3:47:37
So now we've moved to I believe every facility and our mail trailer also has now scanning machines that are used by the TSA as well as the Transportation Safety Administration as well as by us, which have a much, much higher accuracy rate regarding the testing for narcotics and any types of drugs.
3:47:59
So that is our new procedure with respect to that.
3:48:02
The mandate that I've sent around to our SIU and CIB units is that's to be used.
3:48:08
Those machines are to be used for testing.
3:48:11
If there's any field testing being used, it's only the preliminary marker to then have it further tested by the by the scanning machines.