I'd like to start this forum off by inquiring if anyone has run into any problems in the FED's (Or State) with false-positive results from a drug sniffer device. Also known as an ION Detector?
When I was in FCI Beaumont we had a very high number of turn-aways from a severely uncalibrated machine. My mother was one of the ones that were turned away. She tested positive for Heroine, Methamphetamines and Marijuana.. Though, she has never seen any of the Three in her life. I was upset over this but not nearly as much as were inmate's whos families flew in from as far away as Washington State only to be denied for 48 hours because of false-positives of their own.
The real rub in this situation is that families and friends visiting inmates that were turned away had NO recourse.. Even if they offered to give a UA or even blood, they were flatly refused.. Considered guilty..
Eventually, from what I understand, the "sniffer" false-positively ID'd the wrong person.. First a postal employee with some rank that was visiting a relative.. and finally, the Warden of the facility, who then FINALLY pulled the machines and had them sent off to be calibrated..
I do have quite a bit of documentation on these events but will wait before I publish them here.. (I'm not totally free & clear just yet and would rather wait until out of their custody completely.. :) )
I'm sure there are a number of us that would be interested in hearing other similar/related stories if you have any!

David
:o

David,
Did they test everyone or just randomly? I have never seen them do this at FCI Beckley! I am clean:cool: , been for years now! But I was just curious!

They tested everyone trying to gain entry for visitation. Interesting thing was I later learned that the people who were "introducing" drugs through visitation were the ones who were hip to the sniffer and how to beat it.. IE.. Wash your hands good prior to entering the facility.. Use alcohol wipes and DO NOT handle money.. Money is where most people pick up drug residue..
I have heard it mentioned that over 80% of the money in circulation today has some form of drug residue on it that will cause a drug "sniffing" ionizer to ring positive..
I do not know exactly how widely they are used in the Feds but I have heard they are in use at F.C.I. Three Rivers & Bastrop..

David

arizona is wanting to bring in the ion sniffer. i think its stupid. because of what you said there is alot of residue on money. am i suppossed to clean every one of my damn quarters with alchol or bleach before i go in. we already can't wear blue, orange, brown, khaki, cut-off sleeves, all shirts have to go to or above the color bone skirts have to be past the knees. i told the bastards i'm just coming in a nun outfit. i bring my closet when i go down there. but thats another subject.
they have dogs that go through your car at Douglas Prison here in Arizona. plus the cops. the cops let two people with drugs go through don't even get checked. then wig out on me one girl looks tore up missing teeth and i know she does dope and briings shit but they just let her by. than they wig out on me and they only thing they'll get is maybe a beer cap and there dogs can smell my puppy's lucky spot. which its kinda funny one day i thought i was going to have a german shepard humping my car.
but the ion scanner isn't accurate back to the subject sorry. i don't think they should be allowed. the ones at the airport never came up positive for my bags and i always had drug residue on shit when i was in high school. the cops who stereotype and can't see a visitor bringing contraband from the ones who aren't must be making them.

They had dogs go inside of your car? I've never hear of this.. Is it common? Do they first have to key on your car for a positive scent or is that an "open door policy" of that Dept. of Corrections??
Sounds extreme!

David

Douglas is the only prison in arizona that does this. once you drive in you have to let them go through your trunk while they write down that you are there and your information than you pull to the side and the dogs can go through you car and you get sniffed than the cops go through the inside of the car. i hate this shit. i take other inmates family up there cause its expensive going down there i can't afford it if i don't split costs. but i don't trust any of them. my damn knees are knocking everytime the dogs go through. but you've gotta do what you've gotta do. i used to think arizona's prisons were a real hell and a pain in the ass. i still get nervous sometimes going down there just because its a gross place and i don't want to deal with it. but i have to be there for my boy. but after hearing jax talk about the U.K. prisons ours are like heaven or a boys camp or something. U.K. has dungeon like prisons from what it sounds like. you have to pump your own water, in a cell with other guys, and a toilet in the middle.

In Illinois, they do maintain a policy that they can search your car (inside and out) whenever you come onto the premisis and they will on occasion just have extra officers with drug dogs posted at the entrance of the prison and will search everyone-- including visitors AND contract employees! They of course also reserve the right to search your person to any extent they wish. I thought it was ridiculous when my best friend went to go visit JD. After sitting there for an hour, they called her up and made her sit in a strip search room for 45 minutes, patted her down rather THOROUGHLY (she said she felt rather molested)... And then made her sit in the visiting booth another 45 minutes before brining him up. All of this was for a 45 minute no contact visit. There was no need to search her quite the way she did when there was no possible way they could have had any contact. He is in a separate room looking through glass while still shackles... they even secure his cuffs with a chain to the table. They like to intimidate and humiliate whenever possible.

things can still be brought in even though they are behind glass. it happens all the time

is there nothing you can do when they do a strip search like that? I'm planning on coming over in September (from Europe) to visit Darrell and I'm afraid that they will try anything to make our visit as short as possible. I've never been inside a prison and I'm exited but also kinda afraid because of the things I read here, they make you go through. I just know, if they give me a hard time to let me see him, I'm not gonna let if over my side. I will make a big fuss about it. Maybe not at the moment, because I don't want them to refuse me seeing him, but when I'm back in Europe, they'll certainly hear from me again.

I just wonder what your rights are when visiting a prisoner?

i'm sure its different everywhere but here in arizona they send you want you can and can't do in the visitation room, what you can and can't wear, etc. i'd assume they would all send you that after they approved you. are you behind glass. or have a contact visit?

no idea yet. I have to wait because he will be transferred in May or June to a new place and that is where I will visit him. I hope it'll be contact visit though ;)

Oh yeah, like you can see in my pic, I have a piercing in my lip. darrell told me it's possible I'll have to take it out. Is that true? and the one in my tongue? will i have to cover my tattoos? because i have a full sleeve....

in arizona you can have two piercings. whether its two in one ear one in each ear or two body piercings. i have a tongue ring and i can go in with that and i've seenmany people go in with lip piercings, eyebrow piercings, etc. tattoos don't have to be covered up but if you have any political ink they will give you a hard time. i know they deffinatley do in arizona.

Ow, ok then. It's no political tattoo or whatever, just japanese style, so it shouldn't be a problem. this visit is still 6 month away and i'm already getting exited and nervous about this right now! :D