The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is now using X-ray body-scanning technology to prevent the smuggling of drugs and other contraband into jails.
Deputy Chief Michael Dawson says anyone booked into jail, as well as inmates returning from court, will be subjected to the technology.
“We’ve found through experience that the majority of the contraband that’s coming into the system is coming inside the body cavities of individuals. And so this technology that Sheriff [Jerry] Sheridan was able to procure this year, allows us to see that,” Dawson said.
Dawson says the scanners will not replace pat-down searches that officers are trained to do, but instead will be probable cause to conduct a more invasive search.
