Drug search

Earlier today as we were sitting in the dorm playing cards and just hanging out, the lieutenant and a K-9 dog and his trainer came in. They told everyone to sit on their bunks and face away from the CO’s office. I sleep against a wall, so I had a brick wall in my face and couldn’t see anything. We weren’t allowed to turn around until they were done with their search.

The trainer let the K-9 off his leash to run around the dorm to smell for drugs. After the dog ran around for 5 to 10 minutes, the trainer opened all our lockers and had the dog sniff each locker. Then when he was done with all the lockers, he brought the dog to each individual bunk to sniff. When the dog came to a bunk bed, he had to stand on his two hind legs to smell the top bunk. The whole search lasted about 30 to 40 minutes and no drugs were found.

Ted has told me that drugs do indeed get smuggled into prisons via visitations. Visitors are patted down and their coats and belongings are searched. Visitors to Lancaster are allowed to bring in up to $50 in cash, a single car key with no electronic key openers (unless a car cannot be opened without one), a photo ID, an unopened pack of cigarettes and a lighter in a clear Ziploc bag or see-through plastic pouch.

I’ve noticed that visitors with young children are allowed to bring in a transparent bag containing diapers, formula, bottles and toys, and that seems to be the most likely way to smuggle in any contraband. Items can also be hidden in the visitation rooms to be picked up later.

The penalty for smuggling drugs into a prison constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in Florida Statutes 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084. Translation: Up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Repeat offenders can get more time and a higher fine.

For the complete visiting rules, see Florida Statutes Chapter 33-601.711-737 or the Florida Statutes State Correctional Code. Specific references for what may or may not be brought to visitations are addressed in FS 944.47 (see below).

944.47 Introduction, removal, or possession of certain articles unlawful; penalty.

(1)(a) Except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of the correctional institution, it is unlawful to introduce into or upon the grounds of any state correctional institution, or to take or attempt to take or send or attempt to send there from, any of the following articles which are hereby declared to be contraband for the purposes of this section, to wit:

1. Any written or recorded communication or any currency or coin given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

2. Any article of food or clothing given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

3. Any intoxicating beverage or beverage which causes or may cause an intoxicating effect.

4. Any controlled substance as defined in s. 893.02(4) or any prescription or nonprescription drug having a hypnotic, stimulating, or depressing effect.

5. Any firearm or weapon of any kind or any explosive substance.

6. Any cellular telephone or other portable communication device intentionally and unlawfully introduced inside the secure perimeter of any state correctional institution without prior authorization or consent from the officer in charge of such correctional institution. As used in this subparagraph, the term "portable communication device" means any device carried, worn, or stored which is designed or intended to receive or transmit verbal or written messages, access or store data, or connect electronically to the Internet or any other electronic device and which allows communications in any form. Such devices include, but are not limited to, portable two-way pagers, hand-held radios, cellular telephones, Blackberry-type devices, personal digital assistants or PDA's, laptop computers, or any components of these devices which are intended to be used to assemble such devices. The term also includes any new technology that is developed for similar purposes. Excluded from this definition is any device having communication capabilities which has been approved or issued by the department for investigative or institutional security purposes or for conducting other state business.

(b) It is unlawful to transmit or attempt to transmit to, or cause or attempt to cause to be transmitted to or received by, any inmate of any state correctional institution any article or thing declared by this subsection to be contraband, at any place which is outside the grounds of such institution, except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(c) It is unlawful for any inmate of any state correctional institution or any person while upon the grounds of any state correctional institution to be in actual or constructive possession of any article or thing declared by this section to be contraband, except as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(2) A person who violates any provision of this section as it pertains to an article of contraband described in subparagraph (1)(a)1., subparagraph (1)(a)2., or subparagraph (1)(a)6. commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. In all other cases, a violation of a provision of this section constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.