8 Amazing Technological Advancements in Today’s Prisons

Technological innovations can spur the growth of businesses and increase quality of life. But what about in places where we never go? Even in prisons, where inmates stay in small cells and wear orange jumpsuits, technology is changing the way that business works. Corrections facilities are their own micro-economy, and technological advancements and new methods are shaping the way that 21st century prisons will look and function. Whether on the warden’s side or the criminal’s, take a look at these eight amazing technological advancements that are changing today’s prisons.

  1. WANDD

    With just a few clicks and swipes, the days of worrying about a hidden shiv are over. The Weapons and Non-Permitted Devices Detector, also called the WANDD, is a handheld and operated scanner that makes it easier to detect hidden makeshift weapons that violent inmates often fashion. The product, created by Luna Innovations, Inc., identifies homespun weaponry, regardless of material (metal and non-metal weapons can be spotted with WANDD). The product was tested with success at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail in Williamsburg, Va.

  2. PharmaJet

    Recently approved by the FDA, PharmaJet is a needle-free injection system, and works well for medicating and immunizing sick inmates. This addition to the prison medical system makes the entire healthcare process safer, for doctors, patients, and those that fear the needle (or what a crazy criminal might do with it).

  3. Cell Phones

    Even the inmates can benefit from technology, but they still have to find a way to get it. For inmates, cell phones (which are contraband in most cases) are great tools for organizing and even protesting. In December of 2010, several Georgia state prisons were locked down for more than a few days when inmates used the machines to organize a work-stopping protest against inhumane prison conditions.

  4. Biometrics

    Biometrics puts a more intimate spin on the concept of an ID badge. The Corrections Biometric Management System, or CBMS, features technology that detects a person by their retinas, fingerprints, and more. Unlocking cells, cabinets, and storage units, with this leap forward, prison officials will be able to tell exactly who and where their inmates and employees are at all times — and what they’re biologically permitted to access.

  1. RFID Tracking

    Radio frequency identification tracking is a great way to keep track of an inmate’s or cell block’s whereabouts. TSI Prism from Black Creek Integrated Systems is a real-time location and tracking tech that was specifically designed for the corrections industry. Saving guards time and energy, RFID tracking will surely change the way that prisons are run and prisoners are tracked.

  2. The Wolfhound

    Not so fast, crims. Those cell phones you just used to protest are illegal in prisons, and someone’s going to find and confiscate that contraband. Enter: The Wolfhound. In October 2009, the Berkeley Varitronics Wolfhound detected cell phones (via detecting their calls and text messages) hidden beneath floors and inside walls. The California prison system confiscated more than 4,000 cell phones, and the Wolfhound made prison tech history.

  3. TASER X12 Less Lethal Shotgun

    This is the ultimate gun for a prison riot. It’s colored yellow, to indicate that it’s a “less lethal” weapon, and is optimized for use up to 100 feet. After engaging with a target, the gun fires off a painful, 20-second pulse. Bad enough to stun and stop, but usually not enough to kill, the TASER X12 is a seemingly more humane way to play cops and robbers.

  4. Telehealth

    Telehealth systems are found in all Texas prisons (of which there are quite a few). This camera-based system, developed to diagnose and deliver health services using telecommunications technology has saved lives and a considerable amount of money for Texas inmates and prisons.

*Today’s article brought to you by www.criminaljusticedegreesguide.com

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Castle: The Limey – A Good Cop/Bad Cop Review And Recap

Castle: The Limey

 

Once again (as if I had any doubt), this show opened and headed straight for the land of all-too-familiar. The same-old same-old. The tired and old story we see week in and week out.

We get it, Marlowe. You’re milking your fans for every last drop of “I wanna watch” juice. The problem is, even the characters are beginning to look tired. Yes, even Castle seems to have lost some energy. I mean, how many times does it take to repeat the same thing over and over again before everyone loses interest?

My opinion of this episode is far less than favorable. Even the guest star annoyed me with that horrible mangled accent. In fact, I could only understand something like every third mumbled line. Anyway, let’s see what always-happy-about-the-show Melanie has to say. Maybe she found a bright spot somewhere is this mess.

Melanie Atkins

Welcome to the big black moment. Yes, that’s right. We’ve reached the darkest days for our two wanna-be lovebirds. The moment in any good romance when all is lost and the reader — or in this case, the viewer — decides the couple in question will never get together. Yet we shouldn’t lose hope. You know the saying: It’s always darkest before the dawn.

When The Limey begins, Kate is still reeling from Rick’s cold shoulder — the change of heart that resulted from her inadvertently revealing she remembers everything about her shooting, including his desperate I love you — and yet she has no idea he knows that she knows (does that make sense?). Or maybe she just doesn’t want to know.

Lanie finally talked some sense into Kate during a girl’s night in and convinced her to tell Rick how she feels. I really loved one of her lines: “How long can you circle before the fuel runs out?” Perfection. Still, even that sage advice did absolutely no good at all, because Rick picked up right where he left off last week — only this time, he showed up with a shapely blonde flight attendant in tow. A blonde he allowed to drive his red Ferrari. They went on date after date, and that hurt Kate. To top it off, she and Rick are out of sync at the precinct, too… no fun theory building or playful eye sex this week. Just pained looks and hurt expressions.

Kate even went undercover with the handsome, sexy Colin Hunt from Scotland Yard, turning Rick’s head when she appeared wearing a gorgeous black strapless dress, yet that still wasn’t enough to keep his attention. He’s hurting, and he’s showing out. To say he’s acting like a passive-aggressive middle schooler is putting it mildly. Come on, Rick. Grow up!

He’s not the only one at fault, however. Kate had the perfect opportunity at the end of the show to tell Rick how she really feels, but does she? Of course not. She clams up again and lets him walk away. Aarrgghh!

This is getting very, very old — and in the next episode, three weeks from now, Rick abandons Kate to work with Detective Ethan Slaughter. I do believe, though, that we have indeed reached the big black moment in their relationship. Stana Katic herself has said that happiness is just around the corner for our dynamic duo, and that Caskett shippers will be smiling by the end of the season. I certainly hope so. Because right now, I’m drowning in angst!

Lee Lofland

The case this week was a disaster. Seriously, think about it…a woman’s boyfriend, the only man she ever loved, was flying around in a helicopter that was shot down by a smuggled missile. So, like any normal girlfriend in the good old U.S. of A., she decides to take it upon herself to find the missile smugglers. Now that’s always an easy task, right? You know…work eight hours, eat dinner, do a little laundry, watch a little TV, and, oh, yeah, run out and catch me a couple of international smugglers who’re selling stinger missiles by the dozens. Doesn’t everyone do that sort of thing? Puleeze…

Lanie was the only bright spot in this episode. Yeah, you heard me right. That’s how bad it was for me. Yep, I was actually hoping to see and hear more of Lanie. Of course, she didn’t disappoint, starting with her comment, “She was strangled, but she didn’t go down without a fight.” How did she know the woman fought back? According to Lanie, the bruise near the eye was an indication that she’d defended herself. What’d she do, hit her attacker with her face? Now, that’s going down fighting, for sure.

And the fingerprint thing… So now Lanie is not only NYC’s chief medical examiner, firearms expert, toxicologist, and trace evidence expert, she’s also a certified fingerprint examiner. Just so you know, M.E.’s do not compare and match fingerprints.

– Beckett and crew heads to bad accent guy’s hotel room where a hotel employee uses his key to let them inside. Well, they’d need a warrant to make that entry. Hotel employees cannot allow access to someone’s room. When you stay at a hotel you’ve rented that place for the night. You’re basically a tenant, and landlords cannot give permission for a search of their renter’s property. On the other hand, if the police had a warrant the employee could open the door to prevent damage, and to make the entry safer for the police (he could also give them the key, if they have the warrant).

– Beckett steals the bad guy’s card case from his pocket while they’re dancing. And that’s exactly what she did, she stole it. Not legal. However, had he tossed the item in the trash, well, then it’s fair game.

– Castle’s family was missing from this episode. Good or bad? Actually, I was pleased that we weren’t subjected to Alexis’ morgue nonsense. And to miss Mama Castle’s out of place actor-type scenes was also quite pleasing. However, I like the mother and daughter/granddaughter in the show when they’re adding something useful to help the story along.

There really isn’t a lot to discuss about the criminal case, because it was weak…really weak. As usual, suspect number one was a wash. And, the choice of using the “cop-as-a-suspect” recurring theme is also getting really old. Hey Marlowe, it’s okay to use a new idea once in a while. I promise we won’t mind.

Watching this show is like listening to a metronome’s never-ending tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick…

I have a great idea! Since this show used to be about a mystery writer, why don’t we invite Mr. Marlowe and the entire cast to the Writers’ Police Academy for a chat session with some of the the top mystery writers in the country? Then the Castle folks could get an idea of what it’s like to write mysteries, learn about real cops, real procedures, and forensics, and maybe even get a few new ideas. What do you think?

Oh, one last thought. The Biggie Slim guy…another disappointing killer. Please come to the WPA, guys. We can help. Really, we can.

There were a couple of note-worthy lines in this episode:

“People change when you’re not looking.”  ~Beckett

“How long can you circle before the fuel runs out?” ~Lanie

*Remember, folks, I write the sections about the police stuff at the requests of writers who want to know if the procedure used on this show is realistic. Yes, I do realize the show is fiction and I do realize this isn’t a cop show. But please do keep those hate-mail cards and letters coming. It’s so nice to hear from you.

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Hoodies: Intimate, Or Intimidating Apparel?

Hoodies: Intimate or intimidating

Hoodies—today’s word for a sweatshirt with a hood. They’re comfortable. They’re warm. They keep the rain off your head. And the hood keeps your ears from freezing into tiny blocks of ice. Hoodies have also become a fashion of the times, like bell bottom pants of the 60’s, mini skirts, etc. They’re cool. They’re stylish. And they’re a must-have these days. You know, if you want to “be someone.” And I’m all for kids being kids. I know I was my father’s personal nightmare, with that “hippie” long hair and rock and roll bands I played in. I get it, believe me. Ya’ gotta be cool!

Okay, I admit it. I’m a hoodie fan. An addict. They’re my jackets of choice, and I own and wear several. But I don’t wear them to be cool. Instead, I wear them because they’re comfortable and they keep my head warm without leaving behind the dreaded “hat hair.” Besides, they have those fantastic and easily accessible “glove-pockets” in front. Yes, I love my hoodies.

Unfortunately, those pull-tight hoods are also great for helping bad guys conceal their identities. And they’re absolutely fantastic for covering immediately recognizable characteristics, such as hair style, length, and color. Hoodies are the perfect accessory for hiding scars, marks, and tattoos. They’re also worn to intimidate others. I once dealt with a particular group of juvenile gang members who, when they were about to “beat down” a rival, immediately pulled their hoods up over their heads. It was a sign to other gangs that trouble was brewing. When the leader of the gang covered his head with the hood, well, it was game on—a sign to his followers that it was time to go to war.

Before I go any further I feel I must address the Treyvon Martin situation. Yes, I’ve received hundreds of messages asking my opinion, and until now I’ve remained silent on the issue. And there’s a good reason for my silence…I simply cannot offer a reasonable opinion about a situation I know nothing about. I wasn’t there. I haven’t seen the actual evidence. I haven’t spoken to witnesses. And I absolutely refuse to jump to any conclusions based on media reports and family statements. You see, family members in nearly all criminal cases defend their loved ones, and the media is always trying to sell something. So those are two opinionated sources to avoid like the plague when searching for solid evidence that can be used in a court of law. And isn’t that where we’re supposed to try cases…in court? Not on TV or in the street.

Also, the police and attorneys have jobs to do. So I choose to allow them to do those jobs. If they fail, which I have not seen because I’m not involved in their investigation, and neither is anyone else on the outside, then it would be time to complain. But not now. Investigations take time, often lots of time. I sort of believe in the theory “where there’s smoke there’s fire.” Sometimes blowing a lot of hot air around that smoke doesn’t allow it to drift into the right place at the right time. Instead, stand back, let the investigators investigate, and soon the source of the fire comes plainly into view. Remember, an arrest that occurs before its time often ends in  a not-guilty verdict (Casey Anthony, anyone?). No one wants a bad guy to go free, right?

Sure, my heart goes out to the parents of Treyvon. He was their son. Their child. They loved him. And they would love him no matter what.

Same thing with George Zimmerman. His family loves him and will continue to do so no matter what.

But my blog isn’t about the person inside that particular hoodie. Nor is it about the man who shot the wearer of that hoodie.

No, this piece is about THE hoodie. Sure, everyone has a right to wear one, or any other article of clothing, without being judged, profiled, or stereotyped. But it happens, and it happens sometimes, unfortunately, for good reason. And that reason is…lots and lots of bad guys wear hoodies too, and they wear them for a specific purpose. They’re either trying to send a message—to intimidate someone, or they’re wearing one to conceal their identity. I assure you, their motives for wearing hoodies have nothing to do with fashion.

For example:

Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor

Boston

Illinois

Jacksonville

Kansas City

London Rioter

Seattle

Virginia (notice the date)

Vermont

The Unabomber

See what I mean? These for-real bad guys, and woman, all wore hoodies as part of their disguise to commit robberies, murder, or in the case of the protester, destruction of property. Hoodies are indeed associated with bad guys. There’s no way around that statement either. It is what is it is. I cannot begin to count the number of times I’ve responded to reports of hoodie-wearing prowlers, burglars, robbers, rapists, attackers, carjackers, home invaders, etc.

Even I’ve been approached by the police because I was wearing a hoodie. Last winter while staying at our home in N.C. during the Christmas holidays, I went outside at midnight, in a snowstorm, to brush heavy snow off the branches of some newly planted trees. I had the hood of my sweatshirt (I know, I’m old-fashioned), pulled tight to keep out the bitterly cold air, and, well, a neighbor saw me out there with a flashlight and called the police. Two deputies responded and said they’d received a report of a large hoodie-wearing man prowling around our yard.

I’m telling you, it’s the hoodie, people! There’s definitely a perception that they’re associated with crime!

Even the next two images give two starkly different impressions.

Sure goes to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, huh? But some people do give us reason to judge, like the robbers in the photos above. Well, except for Taylor Swift. The only thing she’s guilty of stealing is hearts…

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