Drug Dogs Graduate

Six drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers received their certification today in a ceremony at the Tennessee Prison for Women. The dog teams will play an integral role in the Corrections Department’s efforts to combat the problem of illegal drug trade inside Tennessee prisons.

The dogs have already been put to work once, as part of a multi-department search at the West Tennessee State Penitentiary. The search turned up drugs, weapons, and other contraband hidden in inmates’ belongings. A visitor to the prison was arrested after the dog teams found a crack pipe in her car.

But Corrections Commissioner George Little says the teams will do more than find drugs and contraband.

“We also hope that their presence alone inside the prisons will act as a deterrence, and will cause people who may want to bring drugs into our facilities for our inmates to think again. We intend to send a clear message that this type of illegal activity will not be tolerated and we intend to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who tries to bring drugs into our prisons.”

Along with the dog teams, Little says it’s important to retain skilled staff who know how to recognize the signs of drug use, and to improve drug treatment programs for inmates. He also says he plans to crack down on inmate possession of cell phones, because they are key to arranging covert drug deliveries.