![]() In the case of Ramirez and Oropeza, the two piloted the drones under cover of darkness, coordinating drops with inmates who used contraband phones, according to the indictment.Ĭalifornia’s prisons are flooded with cellphones, even though it is illegal for inmates to have them. The payload is often disguised as a rock or piece of trash in case a guard spots it in the prison before it can be retrieved.Ī sheriff’s official testified at a recent trial that deputies shot down a drone that was flying over a Los Angeles County jail complex in Castaic. attorney in Dallas, Chad Meacham, to say, “Contraband drone deliveries are quickly becoming the bane of prison officials’ existence.”Īn inmate sends a phone’s GPS location to the drone pilot, who uses the phone as a homing device, Parkhill said. Two men have been charged in separate cases in Texas with dropping methamphetamine, tobacco, vape pens, phones and MP3 players into federal prisons, prompting the U.S. Craig Parkhill, a gang investigator at Centinela State Prison, testified at a recent trial in Los Angeles. “There’s a large problem right now with drone activity,” Sgt. Consider what type of people we are turning out of prison whose mental health and drug dependency may have only gotten worse.ĪDOC reports also show close to 4,000 cellphones and electronics seized in a twelve month period.In the persistent ploys to get contraband into prisons, the skies are playing a growing role. Prison reform advocates remind us those who eventually are released from prison will be our neighbors one day. The inmate population is over 20,000 while a fiscal year 2022 report found 800 vacancies out of the 3,800 budgeted positions. The guns were found outside the prisons with one stolen from a guard tower.īurkhalter says corrections officers working to do the job right are in a tough situation. Last fiscal year 4,921 weapons made by inmates were confiscated along with 432 knives and 9 firearms. But that alone won't solve the systemic problems we see," warned Burkhalter.Īnother major concern behind the prison walls is weapons. ![]() "I'm not against the idea of building new prisons. The Alabama Department of Corrections said it was unable to accommodate an interview with ABC 3340 News, only releasing a statement saying it is working hard to implement "cutting edge search and security technologies" to control the influx of contraband. The arrest warrant said Townsend stood to make $1,500 on drug sales to inmates. Last week Kilby Correctional Officer Charlie Townsend was arrested on contraband charges accused of trafficking in meth, promoting prison contraband, and using his position for personal gain. It's clearly a huge problem," explained Burkhalter. We know how drugs are getting in with the arrest of officers. "We see overdoses every single day, it's unconscionable. SEE ALSO: Shelby County Jail inmate dies after medical emergency SEE ALSO: Cannabis cash: Rise in robberies as banks won't take money from medical marijuana business ![]() Already at least 56 deaths, 32 overdoses, and nine homicides according to Burkhalter's research. "We're on track for another record year," explained Burkhalter. He tracked 270 prison deaths in Alabama last year using reports ADOC is required to publish. "The amount of drugs, it's insane," said Burkhalter. He wasn't but 33 years old," said Jones.Įddie Burkhalter, a researcher at Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, says it's another tragic example of the rise of drugs, weapons and violence in state prisons. With the severe staffing shortages, she wonders was anyone checking his cell? She questions did staff try to save him with Narcan. I hear him screaming help me," explained Jones. Was it the money she sent him in prison that paid for the drugs that killed him? "I can't take it no more.
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