California prisons are launching a new dog search policy. What to know- calm

From Kayla MihalovichCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

Anyone who enters a California – including visitors, employees and lawyers – will be the subject of dog demand in a new policy that unfolds today throughout the country.

CalMatters received the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation of March 10, declaring state implementation of policy.

It states that the search of dogs is referring to “fighting the introduction of illegal drugs and smuggling in (prisons) and to reduce the total level of drugs, smuggling and criminal activity within the closed population, thereby increasing the safety and security of all institutions,” the note said.

Visitors and lawyers will now not be allowed to visit a deprived person in a way that would allow close contact if they refuse a search. In some cases, the refusal “can lead to exclusion from all (the California Department for correction and rehabilitation)”, according to the note.

All searches, including staff, will be at the discretion of prison staff.

In recent years drugs penetrating facilitiesBut he was criticized for his crisis management approach.

Last year woman received an agreement of $ 5.6 million After being sexually disturbed while searching for a ribbon while trying to visit her husband in prison in Tahachapi.

Overvision Agency in 2023 found that Drugs continued to enter prisons During the Covid-19 pandemic, when public health protocols prohibit visits.

“We know where the smuggling comes from,” says Kate Chatfield, CEO of the California Association of Public Defenders. “People who work in the institutions know where it comes from. Smuggling comes from the institution’s staff. But they blame everyone. This will have a real adverse effect on people’s ability to visit deprived people.”

The service of the General Inspector in its report issued a set of recommendations, including one related dog. The agency reviewed the strategies of the department to prevent drug prisons and found that it did not “take advantage of its dog program.”

“We understand that reducing drugs in California’s prison system is a continuous challenge for the department,” the audit said. “However, the drugs went to prison even after the department applied the Covid-19 response effort and stopped a personal visit.”

Sean Spala, a spokesman for the Inspector General’s Office, said in a statement to Calmatters that the new note is “silent on the frequency of searches, so it is not clear how often dogs will be used to perform these drug interruption efforts.”

The California Department of Adjustment and Rehabilitation Finding Smuggling, including Weapons, Drugs and Escape Tools in A recent cleaning in 11 prisonsSpokesman Emily Humbal said in a statement to Calmatters.

The “oversees, manages, manages and is responsible for the safe and secure dwelling of deprived free -person persons and therefore continues to evaluate the ways to improve the consistent state application of the opening and intervention systems,” Humbal said.

The new direction of the department has caused widespread concern among the defenders and members of the family of people who have been closed, who have stated that accidental search selection leaves room for bias and will be directed disproportionately to visitors.

“It’s scary,” said Christina Brown, CEO of Non -Profan Bridges of Hope. “Families are already suffering emotional and financial tension to keep in touch with their loved one. Subordinated to these searches, even if they are innocent, it deters future visits because they will not want to go back.”

Kayla Mihalovic is California local news.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.