Lost your Password?
Click Here
Don't have an account?
Register Here
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.
Want to ask a question? Please read our guidance information found here: Submitting a KMS Question
← Back Search KMSThis content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
Introduction: Based on constant attempts to infiltrate prohibited items (narcotic and psychotropic substances, medicines) in the body of inmates into prisons, it is necessary to adequately secure the prison premises against such infiltration to ensure the purpose of pre-trial detention and prison sentence execution. This would eliminate the misuse of narcotic and psychotropic substances or medicines for committing crimes or illegal activities by inmates. In the future, the Corps of Prison ad Court Guard is considering the procurement of detection devices for the detection of prohibited items mentioned above in the body of inmates. Therefore, we would like to be inspired by the technical solutions used for this purpose abroad.
Not to date. What we do have are X-Ray, that must be authorised by the judge and may imply the transfer to hospital of suspected individuals. Scanner are applied to bags
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar) In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?A device that specifically could detect substances inside the body, with the lowest radiation, could be of great interest for prison security and for prison intervention, by preventing people from entering drugs into prison.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
The sub-legal act, more specifically the Rulebook on security affairs in the prison system, regulates the issue of preliminary testing and participation in testing for the presence of drugs, psychotropic substances and medicines that affect psychophysical abilities. As a result, this type of testing (always in case of suspicion that the substances in question have been consumed) is, as a rule, carried out by health workers in the health unit of the prison/penitentiary, in the presence of judicial police officers. Here, the role of the judicial police is to supervise the person being tested. Furthermore, in the case where a person denies/disputes the test result, it is envisaged to proceed in such a way that officers of the judicial police take such a person to a health facility, where re-testing for the presence of drugs/psychotropic substances and medicines in the body will be performed.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar) In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?Since 2020, we have installed a total of 97 X Ray body scanners to detect internally concealed illicit items in the closed adult male estate.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar)As of October 2022, there have been 28,626 positive indications recorded on these scanners. A full evaluation of our security investments is underway and will be published in 2023.
In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?The current legal justification we have gained to use the scanners are that they are to be use only on a random/suspicion purpose only and where we can prove no other way is possible to detect the item , therefore a full search must still take place prior to a scan. Each scan must be fully justified and meet the criteria set in the justifications of practice. If a prison does not comply, then we will risk losing our licence for the entire prison estate. Currently we only have judication to use the scanners on adult male prisoners and this does not cover staff or visitors. We have also chosen not to scan female prisoners due to possible pregnancies and the risk to an unborn foetus. More research needs to be conducted in this area and we are currently exploring this again. Another disadvantage is that it is not possible to force someone to be scanned as movement will just distort the image.
The Irish Prison Service has no lawful ability to use detection equipment that generates images of inside the body for security purposes. Our legalisation limits the use of x-ray technology on the body to medical purposes only. Our current technology used at screening areas is designed to detect metals and mobile phone circuitry, we use Ion Scan detection machines to swab for drugs, and we have Canine detection units in situ also, but these cannot detect narcotics inside the body. We may on occasion remove prisoners to hospitals for x-ray but this must be on medical grounds, for example, concern for a prisoners well being as a result of injecting narcotics or secreting them in their body.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar)Not applicable given reasoning above
In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?Huge advantages to linear x-ray use, but unable to engage this technology.
In the Latvian Prison Administration, there are no devices enabling the detection of narcotic and psychotropic substances or medicines hidden in the body of inmates. If the use of drugs is suspected, an inmate submits a urine test for narcotic substances (express test) or an inmate is taken to the medical examination, where the presence of narcotic substances in the blood is verified (toxicology analysis).
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar)N/A
In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?N/A
Lithuanian Prison Service does not use any devices enabling the detection of narcotic and psychotropic substances or medicines hidden in the body of inmates. In case of suspicion of such behaviour, an inmate shall be taken to a medical facility where he/she may be medically examined.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar)n/a
In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?n/a
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
Single rooms with special toilets can be used if you are convinced that inmates have narcotic substances in their stomach/intestines. Inmates must then be under the continuous supervision of an employee of the same sex. The inspection must be recorded and the inmates must be offered a consultation with a doctor. Norwegian correctional services can use dogs to detect narcotic substances. If the dog marks a person, the inmate can deliver the drug to the prison officer, alternative can the governor decide that the inmate must undergo a physical examination by a doctor. If it is overwhelmingly likely that an inmate is hiding drugs in his body, such as anesthetics, hormone preparations or other chemical substances that are not legal prescribed, the correctional service can decide that a physical examination or other measures should be taken to uncover the substance. Only healthcare personnel can carry out such an examination and the medical doctor decides which measure is appropriate. It can be a gynecological examination, X-ray or MRI.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar)Body scanners will not reveal things hidden in the body's cavities. In Norwegian correctional service, body scanner is used to uncover illegal objects that are hidden outside the body, within clothing or attached to the body.
In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?Use of a special toilet is rarely used in Norway, and only a few prisons have a special toilet. It is time-consuming and requires staff to carry out continuous supervision, which is a financial and a challenge to have enough qualified people. An examination by health personnel is an advantage to be sure of uncovering something hidden in the body's cavities. The disadvantage may be that there are strict rules for using body examination and is mostly used in cases where the dog has marked positively or in cases where the likelihood of finding drugs is high. It is also financially demanding and it can be difficult to have enough staff to carry it out. In such cases, inmates are transported to a hospital or health center that can carry out the examination.
To date, DG EPI does not have such equipment in its prisons.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar)See above
In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?In our opinion, the advantages of such a device would be to avoid any unnecessary transfer of a prisoner to the hospital in case of suspicion of ingestion. The apparatus allows to establish whether there has actually been ingestion or not, as well as for the nude search, in the case of suspected introduction into the anal cavity. Finally, such a device would allow for faster and more effective intervention in the event of ingestion of hazardous substances for the health of the detainee. The disadvantage, in our opinion, would be that such a device requires the presence of medical personnel for its use in prison establishments.
The Swedish Prison and Probation Service has no such devices in service.
If yes, what kind of device do you use for this purpose? (e.g. body scanners, mobile/built-in equipment; specify name/type of device, manufacturer or similar) In your opinion, what are the advantages/disadvantages of using such a device?This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.