Airport strip equipment is revolutionizing the traditional jail “strip” search using 21st-century tools. previously prisoners remove all of their clothing and officers of the same sex verify that the person isn’t smuggling weapons or other types of contraband. The 21st-century search, however, uses new whole full-body scanning technology that detects contraband hidden inside and on an offender’s body in about seven seconds — while requiring that they remove only their shoes just like the airports.

Full-body scanners have been in use for years by airports and corrections departments to search for metal concealed on individuals, but forward scatter technology enhances body scans by identifying metallic and organic materials inside and out!  In March, the Collier County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office began using a new scanner to prevent offenders from smuggling drugs into the jail. “People are putting prescription narcotics in their body cavities, and it’s a very difficult thing to locate with just a traditional strip search,” said Capt. Beth Richards.  In Florida, body cavity searches require a court order due to 4th amendment limitations.

The Sheriff’s Office was interested when it learned about an airport tool that automatically detects hidden drugs and weapons. The RadPro SecurPass, manufactured by Canon U.S.A. Inc., uses forward scatter transmission imaging to conduct a virtual body scan. The inmate stands on an automated platform that moves him or her through the machine like the system installed in Cook County, Illinois Jails and UK Newcastle airport in as reported by the BBC 14 Dec 2008[1].  Shown below, note the hands of the reporter.

 A similar  forward-scatter/ transmission system made by American Science and Engineering, Inc., of Billerica, MA  SmartCheck HT systems are being deployed in US airports.  They are also the manufacture of the Mobile Z-backscatter x-ray vans used to search cars. 

The x-ray beam passes through the inmate’s body, the system detects x-rays exiting the body to construct the image. Officers operating the system study the rendering of the inmate to see if anything looks out of place, Kidney stones come to mind.

“It’s like you’re looking at an X-ray,” Richards said. “You’re looking straight through their body, so if there’s something there that normally wouldn’t be in your body, that God didn’t give you, it jumps out at you.”  Richards said the system shows officers something as minute as a filling in someone’s tooth. If an officer sees something that looks suspicious, the inmate is strip-searched to determine what the object is. 

A New Tool? Airport Scanners Health Screening Tool?

The level of detail is very high, perhaps this could be used for mass screening of TB (tuberculosis).   TSA Tuberculosis Screening Agency, a low cost way to screen millions perhaps some public benefit?  Kidney stones, broken bones, gravel in your knee all could be detected for a security fee?

Transmission-forwardscatter Scanner Dose

Current backscatter dose is about 1/50-1/20th of a chest x-ray, with most of the radiation delivered to skin, breast, testicles.  New "Total Recal" Transmission-forwardscatter systems being depolyed will deliver a huge dose perhaps 100 milliseverts or more approximately 1-3 chest x-rays.  This is very dangerous to expecting mothers and babies.

The Look Through Scanners Speed the Strip Search

About 30 people are booked into the Collier County jail every day, but not every person is scanned. Florida state statute says that a person must meet certain criteria to be strip searched, and the machine is considered a virtual strip search. For example, people arrested for a traffic, regulatory or misdemeanor offense won’t be strip searched unless the incident involved a weapon, controlled substance or a judge says the person can’t be released on recognizance or bond.

Increased Efficiency Clarity Body Transparency

Scanning takes about seven seconds, compared to a standard strip search that takes about 15 minutes. “Physically you can only strip search a limited amount of inmates coming through on a daily basis because of the time it takes and the intrusive nature of a strip search,” Richards said, “but the scanner is not intrusive; you don’t have to disrobe.”  Collier County jail went from performing an average of 10 strip searches per day to 30 or 40 per day with the scanner.  Although the system scans a person’s entire body inside and out, it doesn’t show as much soft tissue detail as the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) scanners. So inmates’ privacy is protected because facial features aren’t shown.  TSA is testing new software to obscure the scanner images, to calm public privacy concerns.  

Jails and Airports Upgrade to More Powerful Search Equipment