A city Dept. of Investigation report revealed more lapses in security screening at Rikers Island facilities, resulting in the smuggling of contraband such as the drugs and alcohol pictured above. Photo Courtesy of the Dept. of Investigation
The city Department of Investigation last week issued a scathing report revealing more lapses in security screening protocols on Rikers Island, and recommendations generated from previous reports that were not consistently followed in practice.
One of the more egregious lapses, the report detailed, occurred last month, when a DOI investigator posing as a Department of Correction guard was able to smuggle various forms of contraband—including drugs and alcohol—through six jail facilities. DOI estimates that a DOC employee could make approximately $3,600 in courier fees for the amount of contraband smuggled during each operation; and that the resale value inside of Rikers of the contraband in each instance totaled more than $22,000.
“DOI’s investigation exposes the dangerous problem of weapons and narcotics smuggling within the city’s jails,” said DOI Commissioner Mark Peters. “We are pleased that DOC has responded quickly to these most-recent findings and proposed new protocols that we believe will address these issues. DOI will issue a full report on its months-long investigation on Rikers Island before the end of the year.”
Additionally, the integrity tests exposed inconsistent security procedures, such as magnetometers that detect metal contraband on an individual that were set at different levels at different facilities, so the undercover investigator set off an alarm in one facility, but not another; security personnel that allowed the undercover investigator to walk into the facility after triggering the magnetometer, and without emptying his pockets; and the failure to follow current protocols such as improperly using a transfrisker wand to examine only the investigator’s belt after the investigator said his belt triggered the magnetometer alarm.
As a result of the latest inquiry’s findings, DOC has agreed to significantly enhance its security procedures, including the implementation for the first time of drug-sniffing dogs at staff entrances, the assignment of the Special Operations Division to oversee security at staff entrances, and the consideration of upgrading DOC search protocols to the standards employed by the federal Transportation Security Administration.
The report also documents the recent arrests of six DOC staff and a nurse regarding the smuggling of contraband and what DOI has gleaned from the investigations, specifically that contraband is often smuggled in cargo pants pockets and lunch bags and then distributed to inmates.
“I have zero tolerance for anyone, including staff, bringing contraband into DOC facilities,” said DOC Commissioner Joseph Ponte.
By Michael V. Cusenza
