Editor’s Note: This contributed article about correctional facilities security represents the views of the author.
Contraband drops into a prison yard have been cause for concern nearly as long as prisons have been standing. Until recently, those drops were typically accomplished by throwing over the package and its contents into an open yard where it would be retrieved by an inmate. Now, the contraband is more valuable and, in many cases, more harmful – drugs, money, cell phones, and small weapons. Complicating the scene are drones. The emergence of drones as tools for smuggling contraband into prison grounds exposes gaps in conventional security systems and protocols.
For security integration companies serving correctional facilities, addressing the drone threat requires a sophisticated approach that combines sensors and systems to improve situational awareness of both ground and air domains. Advanced technologies, including radar, play a critical role in a comprehensive system – especially considering advancements in drone technology, which seem to give perpetrators the upper hand at skirting detection.
The Complexities of the Drone Threat in Correctional Facilities Security
Drones are popular among criminals because they are relatively cheap, easy to procure, and simple to operate. They can carry substantial payloads and operate in low-light conditions, making them ideal for delivering contraband at night when they are least likely detected by cameras or posted guards. Increasingly, security integrators are being tasked by correctional facilities to fortify against drones, changing the very nature of how the security solution is developed, maintained, and future-proofed.
Data from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) highlights the growing drone threat. Between 2015 and 2019, 130 drone incidents were reported in federal prisons. Once a formal reporting policy was adopted in 2018, incidents increased by 87%, with an estimated 243 suspected drone incidents annually. However, these numbers likely underestimate the true scale of the problem, as many drones still go undetected by conventional security systems and strategies. This point was reinforced by a recent law enforcement operation in Georgia, called Operation Skyhawk, which resulted in charges against 150 people for alleged collusion to deliver contraband into state prisons, with the primary method of delivery being drones.
In many instances, across federal and state prison sites, drones are flown at night making it difficult for cameras and humans to spot. Others are modified into “dark drones” that fly undetectable to conventional radio frequency (RF) systems by using either pre-programmed GPS waypoints or 5G networks. Across many sightings, observers on the ground have reported seeing drones that RF detection systems do not recognize, pointing to a glaring gap in detection for these modified aircraft.
The NIJ study, the evidence gathered by Operation Skyhawk, and the rapid evolution of drone technology and use we are witnessing on the world stage have brought to light security system vulnerabilities. These include a lack of understanding about drones and related sensor technologies. It is clear that secure sites must detect all drones in the sky regardless of how they navigate or when they are flying and it’s the integrator’s job to ensure that the right suite of sensors are working together to do just that.
The Emerging Role of Radar in Drone Detection & Why It’s Critical to Integrate into the Security Stack
As drone technology and user knowledge evolve, legacy detection methods, such as RF sensors, are becoming glaringly less effective. This is why radar technology is indispensable. Unlike RF which aims to detect an emitted signal from the drone and/or controller, radar detects all moving objects. Some of the key differentiators radar provides include:
- Detection of All Drone Types: Radar can detect both conventional drones and “dark drones” that do not emit RF signals. Radar can also detect trespassers approaching on the ground. Multi-domain detection is crucial for maintaining comprehensive situational awareness.
- Operation in All-Weather, All-Light Conditions: Radar systems can detect and track drones in various environmental conditions, providing reliable surveillance day and night. This is especially valuable for sites that have not invested in Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) thermal or EO/IR cameras.
- Obtainment of Actionable Data: Radar’s ability to detect fast-moving objects and generate real-time precision location data at long distances allows for early warning and timely response to potential threats.
Radar closes security gaps left by other conventional sensors but cannot act alone. A comprehensive perimeter intrusion detection system should incorporate multiple sensor types that when combined create a clearer picture of the threats at hand. To be most effective at detecting drones and dark drones, a drone detection system must include at least some combination of radar and cameras.
- Radar: Serving as the backbone of the detection system, radar identifies all types of drones, 24/7. Radar data slews cameras for “eyes-on” confirmation and timely decision-making.
- Cameras: Cameras provide visual confirmation of threats detected by radar, enhancing monitoring capabilities, and informing potential mitigation measures.
In addition, integrators should consider how the sensor data is ingested, analyzed and used for alarming and evidence collection. This is usually accomplished using a combination of command and control (C2) and video management system (VMS) to create a single pane of glass from which to operate. High-performance radar and cameras integrate easily with these systems to support operational efficiency.
Correctional Facilities Security to Combat Drone Drops
To effectively combat contraband drone drops, correctional facility security deployments need to include “choke points” where security professionals can intercept illicit items before they reach inmates. This requires a combination of advanced technology and strategic planning.
- Deploying Drone Detection Systems: By using radar combined with other sensors, integrators can empower facilities to detect and track all drones approaching the perimeter, allowing security teams to respond before contraband is delivered, or to intercept contraband before it reaches the general population.
- Data Sharing: The rich data collected by sensors and funneled into the C2 and VMS platforms provides a valuable foundation for cross-organization teamwork and is becoming a critical request from correctional facilities. For example, collaborating with local law enforcement to share real-time data on drone activity within the prison perimeters increases the probability of apprehending drone operators. As discovered by Operation Skyhawk, criminals rely on patterns that work and pivot quickly when they are discovered. Sharing data and observations about when, where, and how drones are flying near prisons helps other institutions be prepared.
Full situational awareness involves understanding and monitoring the environment in every dimension, allowing integrators to empower security professionals to identify threats and act accordingly in a timely manner.
Futureproofing Correctional Facilities Security: A Job Never Finished
As quickly as nets and RF sensors became obsolete, other technologies have risen to defeat the efforts of cunning criminals. To future-proof security measures, security integrators servicing correctional facilities need to be up to date on the evolution of drone technology and the needs of their clients to safeguard the prison perimeter against these aerial drops. As we look toward the future, enhancing situational awareness using drone detection technology and heading off contraband delivery is set to become one of the most prevalent challenges security integrators will be tasked with when meeting the needs of the modern correctional facility. A prudent step is understanding the scale and scope of new and emerging drone technology and the sensors that protect against them.
Anna Kim is regional sales manager, central U.S. and LATAM, at Echodyne.