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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: The Scottish Prison Service has recently commissioned research into the impact and use of (airport security style) body scanner technology in two prisons in Scotland. We would like to learn if body scanners are used in prisons in other parts of Europe. We would be very grateful for information about how you use body scanning technology and the impact of using body scanners in your prisons.
NIPS currently do not use body scanners in any of our prisons
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?N/A
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?N/A
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?N/A
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?N/A
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading?N/A
Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?N/A
No, body scanners are not in use in the Irish Prison system
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?Not applicable
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?Not applicable
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?Not applicable
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?Not applicable
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading?Not applicable
Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?Not applicable
No.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?-
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?-
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?-
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?-
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading?-
Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?-
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
No. The Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service is currently in the process of deciding whether to recommend the use of body scanners (millimeter wave technology) in prisons.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?N/A
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?N/A
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?N/A
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?N/A
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading?N/A
Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?N/A
No, we do not use any kind of x-ray or millimeter body scanners due to that the earlier ones can resolve images from the inside of the body, which is against our regualtions, and the later ones has not shown us any better resolutions than what metal dectors does.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody? Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles? Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect? Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently? Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading? Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?That technology in question has not yet been implemented in the prison system of the Republic of Croatia. Given that fact, we are not able to share experience and good practice as well as other useful information on the impacts, uses and benefits that this technology brings to prisons or penitentiaries.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody? Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles? Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect? Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently? Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading? Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?Yes. In Waldeck prison a body scanner is used for visitors.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?The body scanner has been viewed positively by staff.
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?Yes. The control of the visitors is more accurate without touching the people.
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?Yes, the staff ist trained in useing the body scanner.
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?The body scanner is only used for visitors.
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading? Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?The body scanner is only used for visitors. So far there was no refusal of visitors.
In Slovenian prison system we do not use body scanners. We use metal scanners.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?We can give answers only concerning the use of metal scanners. There were no problems with staff, as well as no negative reviews by prisoners or visitors.
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?/
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?/
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?/
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading?/
Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?/
Prisons within England and Wales may use metal-detecting scanners (including hand-held scanners and BOSS chairs) as part of their local strategies for searching, in accordance with Prison Service Instruction 07/2016. We are in the process of arranging operational trials of both X-Ray and millimetre wave scanners that can reveal if a person has secreted contraband (including drugs and other non-metallic items) hidden internally or close to their skin, respectively. The trials are designed to help us determine if there would be value in utilising this technology to augment existing searching and security measures. In accordance with our current justification for use, X-Ray scanners may only be used on prisoners. Millimetre wave scanners can be used on all persons who enter a prison, including visitors and staff.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?The routine use of metal detecting body scanners is well-established in our prisons and is not known to cause concern. The planned trials of other types of scanners is widely welcomed by prison staff.
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?This is difficult to determine – technological searching and physical searches of the person are complementary and both are effective in identifying contraband.
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?Yes, in respect of metal detectors.
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?The forthcoming trial of X-Ray scanners on prisoners will consider this.
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading? Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?It is highly likely that there are instances of this but such records are not held centrally.
Yes.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody?Positively.
Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles?Yes.
Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect?Our system can only detect metal. That means for drug etc. we need to check the body manually.
Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently?Yes.
Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading?Electrical devices can produce white noise.
Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?Prisoners with a pacemaker should not come in contact with the metal detection system.
There are no bodyscanners used in Belgian prisons.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody? Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles? Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect? Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently? Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading? Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
At present, the use of body scanners is not foreseen in the Italian prisons for checks on inmates, on persons entering establishments or on the various professionals and practitioners operating in the prisons. Checks are performed through archway metal detectors, after taking the measures necessary in case of entries of people from outside (lawyers, volunteers, teachers, inmates’ family members, etc.), while the inmates themselves are checked by portable metal detectors. X-ray devices are used to check packages and parcels sent to prisoners, in order to detect any dangerous objects such as explosives, weapons, etc. and any other forbidden items that may trouble security and order.
Generally, has the machine been viewed positively or negatively by staff and prisoners in custody? Has the process of body scanning been more productive (than traditional searching methods) in retrieving unauthorised and prohibited articles? Are staff confident that the body scanner is reliable and predictable as to what it can and cannot detect? Has the use of the body scanner speeded up admission in/transfer out processes allowing prisoners to exit and enter more efficiently? Under what circumstances and conditions can the scanner indicate a false reading? Have there been any instances of prisoners challenging or refusing to take part in the body scanning process?