In an effort to combat contraband cell phones in correctional facilities, which have been found to challenge the safety and security of prisons and jails, correctional leaders and policymakers have employed a variety of technological and nontechnological strategies to find and remove these devices from their facilities. This practitioner-focused report examines one such contraband interdiction strategy: the use of cell phone detection canines (K9s). Historically, agencies have largely used K9s for perimeter patrol, crowd control, escapee apprehension, and drug detection in correctional settings, but more recently, agencies have trained K9s to detect contraband cell phones and other electronic storage devices.

Why this matters

Correctional agencies around the country consider contraband cell phones a major challenge to institutional safety and security and have employed a host of strategies to combat them, including cell phone detection K9s. K9 cell phone detection programs are widespread, reportedly being used by as many as 80 percent of states; they vary substantially, however, and little is known about their implementation or efficacy. To address this gap, the research team spoke with 10 state departments of corrections about their K9 programs and outlined seven key components of cell phone detection K9 programs that agencies should consider when developing them.

Key takeaways

The seven key components of cell phone detection K9 programs are as follows:

• Concept of operations: Agencies must determine when, how, and where to use the K9s before implementing these programs. Key questions to consider are whether the dogs will be used for the inspection of incarcerated people, staff, visitors, or some combination of these groups; what areas they will inspect (common areas, entry points, etc.); and whether they will be single-purpose (i.e., focus only on cell phones) or dual-purpose (i.e., focus on cell phones and drugs).
• Implementation considerations: Agencies’ implementation plans should suit their needs. Do cell phone detection K9s need to be integrated into an existing K9 program? What should the dog-handler team’s configuration be? Where will the agency board the K9s? And how should the K9s be rewarded for successful alerts?
• Handler selection and compensation: Agencies must determine the selection criteria and compensation for K9 handlers that suit their specific needs, using their concept of operations, agency policy, and staff training history. Selection can be based on seniority, experience, and prior training in K9 programs, among other factors. Compensation will be based on salary and benefits packages unique to each jurisdiction.
• K9 acquisition and training: There are four primary ways of procuring K9 dogs: procuring pretrained dogs from a reputable contractor, procuring “green dogs” (dogs bred and tested for certain characteristics) from a reputable contractor, procuring rescue dogs from a shelter, or using in-house breeding programs.
• Special duty compensation and other costs: Agencies must factor in additional costs of K9 programs, like the costs of veterinary services and agency-issued transportation vehicles.
• Performance metrics, reporting, and evaluation: Once an agency has implemented a program, it is important for it to think about how it measures K9 performance. To ensure consistent reporting of K9 performance, agencies should clearly define the metrics they will gather and evaluate. An agency may need to revise its incident report form and associated management information system to capture metrics on K9-found contraband. In addition to simple tabulations of the number of contraband cell phone recoveries, other more granular metrics can be gathered.
• Other K9 program resources: As agencies plan to implement their own cell phone detection K9 programs, they should consider using available online resources, like guidelines published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate. Agencies should also connect with other agencies that have established similar programs and are willing to share their concept of operations, example policies and procedures, and training curricula.