(AP) - California is turning from mechanical scanners to canine sniffers in its latest intensive attempt to catch smugglers who import drugs and cellphones into state prisons.
Gov. Jerry Brown is dumping a three-year, $15 million program intended to thwart prison smuggling, citing the "mixed and inconclusive" results.
That effort tested the extensive use of airport-style scanners, metal detectors, surveillance cameras, urine tests and drug-sniffing dogs at 11 of California's 35 prisons.
Researchers found it cut drug use at three prisons with the most intensive programs but had little effect elsewhere.
The revised budget that Brown sent to state lawmakers on Thursday instead seeks nearly $7 million to more than double the number of corrections department canine teams.
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today