Detention Center Security Upgrades

NC General Statutes Chapter 153A, Article 10, Part 2 authorizes the County to establish, acquire, erect, repair, maintain, and operate local confinement facilities. Those facilities may include equipment, such as body scanners, in the booking area to ensure the security of staff and other inmates. The purpose of purchasing the body security scanner for use in the Halifax County Detention Center is to offer more privacy and safety to inmates during the body search process, as well as to keep detention officers safe and make the body search process more efficient and thorough and less prone to human error. In so doing, this project is helping to improve the criminal justice system. Especially due to COVID and limited staff in our Halifax County Detention Center, the body security scanner will not only allow for greater privacy for the inmates but also greater safety for all concerned. The scanner will also allow for more efficiency and the ability to detect dangerous items that may not be immediately visible, eliminating the risk of human error. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office has done research on the body security scanner and selected the best option for their needs. Once funding is secured, they will then be able to order the equipment and, once received, train staff and put the scanner into immediate use. The primary project impacts are the privacy afforded to inmates in the body search process, the safety provided to both inmates and detention center staff, and the efficiency and elimination of human error during the body search process. Recent years have been especially difficult for law enforcement. It is already challenging to attract and retain law enforcement officers to rural communities, especially to serve in detention facilities. It is Halifax County’s goal to continue working to improve detention center conditions and processes for the health, well-being and safety of our law enforcement officers and our inmates. This project would greatly aid the County in attaining that goal.