K-9 Teams Sniff Out Prison Cell Phones

Company is first to train dogs for cell-phone detection.

A dog named Lexie chews on one of her discoveries Courtesy: allstates-k9.com

(FULLERTON, Calif.) - Experts in corrections say cell phones in the hands of prison inmates can lead to disastrous effects. It is reported that convicts with cell phones can coordinate serious crimes in the outside world, traffic drugs, plan escapes and even threaten court witnesses- all while incarcerated. In Baltimore, one witness was reportedly murdered after an inmate using a cell phone ordered the killing.

"Inmates talking on their cells, from their cells, has become a serious problem - we're talking about crime, violence, drugs and gang activity, all being initiated from a cell phone," said Harlen "Lamb" Lambert with All States K-9 Detection, the first US company to train K-9s to sniff out prison cell phones.

Lambert says inmates receive cell phones from friends and family smuggling them in during visits or from bribed prison workers.

"Anyone coming into contact with a prison inmate has the potential to smuggle in a cell phone, and that cell phone has the potential to enable serious harm to the outside world," said Lambert.

All States K-9 Detection is the first company to specifically train dogs to locate cell phones in prisons - hidden under mattresses, in freezers, vending machines and carved-out books, inside toilet tanks or even peanut butter jars.

In 2007, the company trained the first four dogs in the world to detect the odor of cell phones in prisons. In May, they opened the first 4,000 foot indoor training facility where eighteen cell-phone-detection dogs are being trained. The safe environment allows K9 detection teams to train dogs in the art of picking up scent, pinpointing and alerting the handler.

The Virginia Department of Corrections was proactive and invited All States K-9 Detection to add the odor of cell phones to their drug detection canines making them the first Department of Corrections in the U.S. to utilize this resource.

"Our dogs are top-notch and effective in reducing risk of cell phone crimes," said Lambert. "We offer all of the services correctional facilities need to help deal with this problem." All States K-9 Detection has also worked with three major Department of Corrections in California.

Statistics on the number of cell phones in US prisons are not available. However, officials are rapidly working to pass legislation to make cell phones illegal in US prisons - Maryland and Florida have already passed legislation increasing the penalties for people who provide cell phones to inmates.