ODRC continues to fight the influx of drugs and other major contraband in prisons

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ODRC continues to fight the influx of drugs and other major contraband in prisons

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - As part of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's (ODRC) ongoing efforts to prevent drug abuse in its prisons, the agency announced today that its new Ohio Mail Processing Center (OMPC) is now managing mail for all prisons statewide.

ODRC began phasing in OMPC operations for all prisons in November 2023, with the final three prisons - Toledo Correctional Institution, the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, and the Ohio State Penitentiary - coming online last month.

The OMPC, located in Youngstown, now serves as a centralized processing location for all incarcerated persons' non-legal mail. After reviewing mail for security concerns and any evidence of drugs, the mail is scanned and sent electronically to the incarcerated recipient. The new process eliminates personal mail sent to individual prisons and reduces opportunities for drug-laced or drug-soaked paper to enter ODRC facilities.

A tainted piece of paper, sometimes as small as a dime, can put ODRC staff and those under their care in an incredible amount of danger. The OMPC has had a profound effect on the amount of drug-soaked paper and other contraband coming into Ohio prisons through the mail. The OMPC represents ODRC's commitment to keeping staff and incarcerated persons safe and its continued focus on reducing recidivism.

Legal mail and business mail are not subject to processing at the OMPC.

Suboxone strips confiscated at an Ohio prison

OMPC B-Roll

Contraband flown by drone that was intercepted before it could be conveyed at an Ohio prison

Smuggling drugs and other contraband into prisons is a challenge faced by correctional systems across the country with paper being the primary means of conveyance in Ohio. While ODRC has been effective in tackling contraband, the agency is constantly working to improve and adapt its approach to stay one step ahead of the illegal conveyors.

"Drugs and other contraband coming into our prisons is a lot like a game of 'Whack-a-Mole'," said ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith. "We constantly look for new innovations and collaborations to help ensure the contraband stays out so the people working and living inside can stay safe. Our programming cannot exist without the foundation of safety."

The constantly changing nature of technology and ever-evolving means of illegal conveyance have led ODRC to combat contraband through innovative interdiction efforts. Below are examples of some tools Ohio has deployed to keep contraband from entering its prisons. The strategies highlighted below are just a sampling of ODRC's full, comprehensive contraband interdiction plan.

Drone technology has allowed perpetrators to convey large amounts of major contraband onto prison grounds. ODRC has built a multi-layer drone detection system to fight these conveyances. The system alerts staff to incoming drones, which allows correction officers to intercept drone payloads before incarcerated persons can reach them.

Drone B-Roll

Drone Detection B-Roll

In 2022, ODRC purchased body scanners that were installed at all 28 prisons. Incarcerated adults pass through these scanners when they enter reception, are transferred into a facility, and return from an outside work assignment, etc. X-ray images produced during these scans reveal any possible drugs or contraband that might be hidden in a body. All scanners are registered with the Ohio Department of Health. On the 'low' setting used by ODRC, a person can be scanned 1000 times and be under the amount of radiation someone can be exposed to in a year.

Scanner B-Roll

"Our use of technology to fight against contraband and dangerous drugs entering our prisons is just one piece of the puzzle," said Director Chambers-Smith. "While technology has proven to be a valuable tool for us, it can never replace the hard work and dedication of the staff who work inside our facilities and face this challenge head-on each day. I especially want to thank our facility investigators who are boots-on-the-ground putting all the puzzle pieces together."

Perhaps the most effective tool that ODRC uses to combat drugs and other contraband is through its 14 drug-detecting K9s. The dogs and their handlers randomly sweep institutions for contraband. The results have been demonstrable:

Total Major Contraband Found by ODRC K9s

ODRC data from January 2020 through July 2025

K9 Training B-Roll

"Our best strategies to keep our prisons safe are to try to stop drugs and other dangerous contraband from entering our prisons to begin with," said Director Chambers-Smith. "Our strategic plan is constantly changing as the methods of conveyance change. As difficult as this challenge is for our agency and other prisons across the country, I am proud of the robust and comprehensive plan Ohio has developed. A lot of credit goes to our drug-interdiction team for its continued dedication to researching and developing new ways to prevent drugs from entering our prisons."