I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write about this week and was at an impasse. I had been mulling some ideas over about events that had occurred throughout the week and it hit me on Thursday while I was teaching a class. We were talking about contraband interdiction and the way that staff are searched. Man, did i open a can of worms with that one!
Correctional agencies throughout the country pretty much search offenders in the same fashion whether it be a strip search or a pat search. Regardless of the search type, it is uncomfortable to do properly. The old way of doing things are gone.
Who really wants to have their hands all over someone that you don't know? (You perverts! Get back on track here!) And better yet, who wants to see someone of the same sex naked in front of you as they show you a body that in some cases has not seen 2 great inventions (soap and water) in some time? Either way, we have a job to do.
When it comes down to pat searches, the most uncomfortable part is when you have to slide your hand along the inside of the leg all the way to the groin area. Why do we do that? Because since it is such an uncomfortable place for us to search, offenders hide their contraband there. Do we search the groin area? We are supposed to do it with the back of our hand in order to avoid a potential sexual assault situation. Make sure that you have gloves on every time. You never know what sharp object you may find!
Unpleasant? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely!
How about when we pat search staff? Guess what! We have to do it the same way. It is unfortunate that staff introduce contraband into correctional facilities for offenders putting everyone at risk. But we have to search all staff the same way, every time. No exceptions.
If you happen to be a staff member that doesn't like to have it done to you, then this job is not for you and get out. Thank you for your service but its time to go.
With strip searches, completely naked is the name of the game. Show me everything. I'm going to go through all your possessions, because that $100 bill you have rolled up into the waist seam of your pants will not be found if I just get a handful of clothes and squeeze them to "search" them. You will show me the inside of your mouth. If your teeth come out, pop 'em out and show me them pearly whites. If you have a fake eye, guess what? You're right! Pop it out and let me see that eye socket. Prosthetic arm? Give me a hand why don't ya! That's right, it comes off and I'm going to search it. In a nutshell, if you were not born with it, you are going to take it off so it can be searched. Don't forget the shoes. You have to stick your hand in there to search. (Gloves people, gloves!)
When I tell you to bend over and spread them, you need to do just that. The squat and cough does not work. An experienced smuggler can squat, cough and nothing will come out. If you think that it will, you are mistaken. The only way that this method will work is if they did not insert the contraband all the way in their anus. You need to look. Every time. All the time.
Remember that offenders will do anything they possibly can to make us feel uncomfortable (no shower, dirty diaper, etc) so that we do a quick, improper search . And it is because of this, staff do not feel comfortable having to do it. They take shortcuts. Contraband enters the facility. Staff get turned. Offenders win. We loose.
Agencies are cracking down on this type of non-compliance. Dereliction of duty. Substandard performance.
If you don't like it, leave. The alternative is criminal charges, loss of job, loss of income, loss of respect, loss of integrity. There are people that want the job and are willing to do it the right way.
Change is coming. Either you're on the bus or you're not.
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