Corrections professionals says it catches more than a thorough pat-down and is a better alternative to strip searching inmates — which isn’t allowed in a pre-sentencing facility like the Montgomery County Jail without probable cause.
“As technology got better, body scanners really started to develop to the point where they were not invasive on people’s rights, but the technology was good enough that we could see when they were smuggling contraband – whether it was on them or inside of them — coming into our jail,” said Montgomery County Chief Deputy Rob Streck.
The Soter RS uses transmission image technology that produces a less invasive image with greater detection than scans generated by backscatter or milliwave devices, according to the company.
The scanning process takes about 10 seconds. During that period, an x-ray image is generated that shows the entire body and all contraband that may be hidden, according to Texas-based OD North America.
Operators of the system can zoom in on an x-ray and adjust brightness values and use various filters to help identify foreign objects. Operators are exposed to no radiation during the process and an inmate being scanned receive low doses, according to the company.
Montgomery County approved the purchase of the $118,750 machine from OD Security North America last July. About $40,000 was spent to modify the intake area of the jail to accommodate the scanner.
The scanner will become operational as soon as the state clears the results of an Ohio Department of Health inspection, which could happen within the week, said Montgomery County Sheriff’s Maj. Matt Haines, the jail’s administrator.
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