Jail form web format

Appendix D: 
NSCC Jail Form Web Format 

25

Correctional Contraband and Interdiction Modalities - Jail Form
National Survey of Correctional Contraband: With funding from the National Institute of Justice
and in partnership with the American Correctional Association, the Urban Institute is working on a
project to better understand contraband and contraband interdiction. As part of this effort, your
agency was selected to participate in the National Survey of Correctional Contraband (NSCC). The
NSCC is being administered to all state prisons and a sample of jails across the country.
The NSCC has four objectives:
 To estimate the prevalence and types of contraband known to administrators.
 To determine the methods by which contraband is introduced to inmates (e.g., through
visitation, mail, or correctional staff; by modifying items found in the facility; etc.).
 To quantify the occurrence of contraband-related violence and misconduct in correctional
facilities.
 To understand the types of interdiction modalities used in these facilities and what kinds of
contraband these modalities target.
Why participate in the NSCC? At its conclusion, this project will provide clear and practical
information to correctional agencies about the prevalence of contraband in the U.S., the methods
by which contraband enters correctional facilities, which interdiction modalities are used to prevent
and remove contraband, how administrators can select and implement these interdiction
modalities, and lessons learned related to the cost, implementation challenges, and efficacy of
these modalities.
Survey instructions: We are seeking one survey response per facility. For example, if your
agency operates multiple jails in your county or jurisdiction, including privately operated jails,
please provide one response for each jail facility. This survey should be completed by the person
or persons in your agency most knowledgeable about your data and/or your current practices and
policies regarding contraband. This may require the input of multiple people across multiple
departments within your agency. We ask that you complete the survey by September 30, 2018.
Burden statement: The survey takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.
Research protections: Your participation in this survey is voluntary and the name of the
responding individual(s) will be confidential. By providing answers to these survey questions, you
consent to participate in this study. However, you may stop at any time or decline to answer any
question.
Once all surveys have been collected, we will archive survey responses with the Interuniversity
Consortium for Political and Social Research’s National Archive of Criminal Justice Data. These
data will not be made available to the public and through data use requests to ICPSR.
Disclaimer: This project was supported by Award No. 2015-IJ-CX-K001, awarded by the National
Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings,
and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this survey are those of the author(s) and do

26

not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.
Thank you in advance for your participation. If you have any questions about the survey, please
contact the [email protected] or call the toll-free NSCC helpline at (844) 288-4427.

Data Supplied by
Name
________________________________________________________________
Title
________________________________________________________________
Official/Work Address
Street/PO Box

City

State

Zip

Telephone Number
Phone Number (xxx-xxx-xxxx)

Extension

Email Address
________________________________________________________________

Facility Information
Facility Name
________________________________________________________________
Facility Address
Street
Number/PO Box

City

State

Zip Code

27

What types of facilities are included in this survey?
Confinement facilities, detention centers, jails, and other correctional facilities administered by a
local law enforcement agency, by one or more local governments, or by a private organization
through a contract with the locality, intended for adults but sometimes may be holding juveniles.
 INCLUDE city/county/regional jails or detention centers
 INCLUDE privately owned or operated jails or detention centers
 INCLUDE special jail facilities (e.g., medical/treatment/release centers or halfway house
 INCLUDE temporary holding or lockup facilities if they are part of your combined function
 EXCLUDE temporary holding or lockup that are not part of your combined function from
which inmates are usually transferred within 72 hours and not held beyond arraignment. If
your only function is a temporary holding or lockup facility, DO NOT complete this form.

I. Facility Characteristics
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ

Q1. Who operates this facility?
Select only one option.

o Law enforcement agency (e.g., Sheriff) (1)
o Other city or county agency (2)
o Regional authority (3)
o Joint State and Local authority (4)
o Private contractor (5)

28

Q2. What is the primary level of physical security of this facility?
Select only one option.

o None (e.g. jail without a security classification) (1)
o Super maximum (2)
o Maximum/close/high (3)
o Medium (4)
o Minimum/low (5)
o Administrative (e.g. medical facilities) (6)
o Other: specify (7) ________________________________________________
Q3. What type of area is this facility located?
Select only one option.

o Urban (1)
o Suburban (2)
o Rural/Frontier (3)
Q4. Are the majority of housing units or inmates in this facility under direct supervision?
Direct supervision occurs when correctional staff are physically stationed inside a housing unit and
directly observing inmates.

o Yes (1)
o No (2)
Q5. What type of architectural design does this facility look most like?
Select only one option.

o Radial — a linear-like design with many cells in a row straight through each cell block (1)
o
Telephone-pole — a linear design in which inmates and staff move along the main corridor
(2)
29

o Campus — a design made up of several buildings spread across a large area (3)
o
Courtyard—a mix of telephone-pole and campus design, in which a building is built around
a center (e.g., a courtyard) (4)
o Other (5) ________________________________________________
Q6. Does this facility have a secure perimeter or barrier, such as walls, to keep inmates
from leaving?

o Yes (1)
o No (2)
Q7. On December 31, 2017, what was the design capacity and rated capacity of this facility?
Design capacity is number of inmates that planners or architects intended for this facility.
Rated capacity is the maximum number of beds or inmates authorized by a rating official for safe
and efficient operation. It may exceed design capacity due to double bunking. However, beds in an
area not designed as sleeping space, such as day rooms and multipurpose rooms, should not be
included in rated capacity.

Total

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Design capacity (1)
Rated capacity (2)

Q8. In what year was the original construction completed on this facility?
If more than one building, provide the year for the oldest building that includes a sleeping area for
the inmates.

Year of original construction

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

30

II. Inmate and Staff Counts
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ
Q9. Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, what was the average daily
population of this facility?
To calculate the average daily population, add the number of persons for each day during the
period January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, and divide the result by 365.

Average daily population

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Q10. On December 31, 2017, how many inmates in this facility were:
Number of Inmates

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Unsentenced (i.e., pretrial) (1)
Sentenced less than 1 year
(2)
Sentenced 1 year or more (3)
Total (4)

Q11. On December 31, 2017, how many inmates in this facility were:
Include all inmates temporarily absent from this facility (e.g. for court appearances, brief furloughs,
and medical leave.
Exclude all inmates who were on escape or absent without leave (AWOL).

Number of Inmates

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

31

Males under age 18 (1)
Females under age 18 (2)
Males age 18 or older (3)
Females age 18 or older (4)
Total (5)

Q12. Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, how many volunteers were allowed
into this facility?
Count each volunteer only once.
Volunteers may include service providers, educators, religious/ministry leaders, etc.

Male

Estimate
Please select if
your response is
an estimate

Female

Estimate
Please select if
your response is
an estimate

Volunteers

Q13. On December 31, 2017, how many full-time and part-time staff employed or contracted
by this facility were:
Count each employee only once.
Classify employees with multiple functions by the one performed most frequently.
Security staff include officers of all ranks and other uniformed staff who, regardless of their staff
title, are in direct contact with inmates, and involved in their daily custody, care, supervision or
monitoring. Includes correctional officers, line staff and supervisors.
Other/non-security staff include all non-uniformed/civilian employees, such as treatment staff,
educational staff, clerical staff, maintenance staff, medical personnel, and other professional and
technical staff.

Male

Estimate
Please select if
your response is
an estimate

Female

Estimate
Please select if
your response is
an estimate

32

Security staff (1)
Other/nonsecurity staff (2)
Total (3)

III. Facility Programs
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ
Q14. How many inmates in this facility were participating in each type of work assignment
on December 31, 2017?
Include all that apply. For example, if an inmate is involved in prison industries as well as
farming/agriculture, he/she should be counted once under each category.

Number of Inmates

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Prison industries (e.g. license
plates, wood product, textiles,
etc.) (1)
Facility support services (e.g.
office/administrative work,
food services, building
maintenance, etc.) (2)
Farming/agriculture (3)
Public works assignments
(inmates work outside the
facility and perform road,
park, or other public
maintenance work) (4)
Other: specify (5)

Q15. How many inmates in this facility were enrolled in or receiving the following types of
treatment programming or services on December 31, 2017?

33

Include all that apply. For example, if an inmate is involved in substance abuse/addiction program
as well as mental health services/treatment, he/she should be counted once under each category.

Number of Inmates

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Substance abuse/addition
treatment (1)
Alcohol abuse/addiction
treatment (2)
Mental health
services/treatment (3)
Other: specify (4)

Q16(A).Does this facility operate work release, educational release, and/or treatment release
programs that allow inmates to work in the community unsupervised by facility staff, but
require them to return to the facility at night?

o Yes (1)
o No (2)
Q16(B). How many inmates were participating in the unsupervised release programs listed
above in Q16(A) on December 31, 2017?
Number of Inmates
Participating

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

IV. Contraband Recoveries
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ

34

Q17. Please report the total number of contraband recoveries in this facility between
January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.
Contraband is defined as any item that is (a) not approved for possession by an inmate or for
admission into the institution, and/or (b) presents a threat to security or its condition or excessive
quantities of it present a health, fire, or housekeeping hazard.
Contraband recoveries include any incident where staff found or recovered contraband items,
regardless of whether an inmate was disciplined for the infraction or not. Please count each type of
contraband recovered as a single recovery. For example, if a weapon and cell phone were
recovered during the same cell search, mark this as two recoveries. But, if two cell phones were
recovered, mark this as one recovery. If your agency calculates or defines “recoveries” differently,
please include the total number of recoveries as they are recorded in your system and fill out subquestion A below.
Q17(A). Provide any additional detail on how recoveries are calculated.
Optional.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Q 17(B). Please report the total number of contraband recoveries in this facility between
January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017.

Number of Recoveries

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Total

35

Q17(C). Which types of contraband were included in the number provided above in Q17(B)?
Select all that apply.
Controlled substances — illegal narcotics and unauthorized prescription medications, such
as cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, methadone, suboxone, marijuana, etc. (1)
Tobacco (2)
Alcohol — alcohol from outside the facility and alcohol made inside the facility such as
hooch, pruno, prison wine, etc. (3)
Weapons — explosives, ammunitions, chemical compounds, shivs, shanks, zipguns, etc.
(4)
Cell phones (5)
Cash or other moneys — checks, credit cards, debit cards , etc. (6)
Property with gang identifiers — gang signs, symbols, language, or information (7)
Modified or altered property — not including weapons (8)
Excessive property — food or commissary items, pictures, etc. (9)
Other: specify (10) ________________________________________________

Q18. Please report the number of recoveries between January 1, 2017, and December 31,
2017, for each type of contraband.

Number of Recoveries

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

36

Controlled substances (1)
Tobacco (2)
Alcohol (3)
Weapons (4)
If different than the above,
how many total weapons were
seized in 2017? (5)
Cell phones (6)
If different than the above,
how many total cell phones
were seized in 2017? (7)
Cash or other moneys (8)
Property with gang identifiers
(9)
Modified or altered property
(10)
Excessive property (11)
Other: specify (12)

V. Contraband Incidents
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ
Q19. Please report the number of contraband-related injuries between January 1, 2017, and
December 31, 2017.
Estimate
Number of Incidents
Please select if your response
is an estimate

37

Number of inmate-on-staff
assaults with weapons (1)
Number of inmate-on-inmate
assaults with weapons (2)
Number of inmate
hospitalizations or other
medical interventions for drug
overdoses (3)
Number of inmate
hospitalizations or other
medical interventions for
weapons-related injuries (4)

Q20. Please report the number of punitive actions taken against inmates for contrabandrelated infractions between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.

Number of Punitive Actions

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Number of contraband-related
infractions that resulted in
new charges (1)
Number of contraband-related
infractions that resulted in
placement in restricted
housing (2)
Number of contraband-related
infractions that resulted in
disciplinary reports (3)

Q21. Please report the number of punitive actions taken against staff for contraband-related
violations between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.

Number of Punitive Actions

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Number of contraband-related
staff arrests (1)
Number of contraband-related
staff terminations (2)
Number of contraband-related
staff suspensions (3)
Total number of contrabandrelated staff violations (4)

38

Q22. Please report the number of punitive actions taken against visitors for contrabandrelated infractions between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.

Number of Punitive Actions

Estimate
Please select if your response
is an estimate

Number of contraband-related
visitor arrests (1)
Number of contraband-related
visitor violations (2)

VI. Contraband Interdiction
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction.
If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ
Q23. Which of the following does this facility use on security staff for
detecting/confiscating/removing contraband?
Select all that apply.
Walk-through metal detector (1)
X-Ray conveyor/x-ray inspection system (2)
Whole-body scanner/wave scanner (3)
Regular pat search (4)
Random pat search (5)
Random drug test (6)
Statewide contraband interdiction team (7)

39

Contraband interdiction team at facility (8)
K-9 unit for contraband detection (9)
Surveillance cameras (10)
Mass spectrometry/hand swabs (11)
Staff-initiated investigation and intelligence (12)
None (13)
Other: specify (14) ________________________________________________

Q24. Which of the following does this facility use on non-security staff (including medical
personnel, service providers, program staff, etc.) for detecting/confiscating/removing
contraband?
Select all that apply.
Walk-through metal detector (1)
X-Ray conveyor/x-ray inspection system (2)
Whole-body scanner/wave scanner (3)
Regular pat search (4)
Random pat search (5)
Random drug test (6)
Statewide contraband interdiction team (7)
Contraband interdiction team at facility (8)
K-9 unit for contraband detection (9)
Surveillance cameras (10)
Mass spectrometry/hand swabs (11)

40

Staff-initiated investigation and intelligence (12)
None (13)
Other: specify (14) ________________________________________________

Q25. Which of the following does this facility use on visitors for
detecting/confiscating/removing contraband?
Select all that apply.
Walk-through metal detector (1)
X-Ray conveyor/x-ray inspection system (2)
Whole-body scanner/wave scanner (3)
Regular pat search (4)
Random pat search (5)
Random drug test (6)
Statewide contraband interdiction team (7)
Contraband interdiction team at facility (8)
K-9 unit for contraband detection (9)
Surveillance cameras (10)
Mass spectrometry/hand swabs (11)
Staff-initiated investigation and intelligence (12)
None (13)
Other: specify (14) ________________________________________________

Q26. Which of the following does this facility use on inmates for
detecting/confiscating/removing contraband?
Select all that apply.
41

Walk-through metal detector (1)
X-Ray conveyor/x-ray inspection system (2)
Whole-body scanner/wave scanner (3)
Regular pat search (4)
Random pat search (5)
Regular strip search (6)
Random strip search (7)
Random drug test (8)
Statewide contraband interdiction team (9)
Contraband interdiction team at facility (10)
K-9 unit for contraband detection (11)
Surveillance cameras (12)
Mass spectrometry/hand swabs (13)
Cell shake downs/searches (14)
Staff-initiated investigation and intelligence (15)
BOSS (Body Orifice Scanning System) chairs (16)
Other: specify (17) ________________________________________________

Q27. Which of the following does this facility use for detecting/confiscating/removing cell
phones?
Select all that apply.
Generic metal detecting technologies or specialized/enhanced metal detectors that are
specifically designed to detect cell phones and other types of correctional contraband (1)

42

Cell phone specific detection technologies (devices used for locating, tracking, and
identifying various sources of radio transmissions) (2)
Cell phone detection canine teams (e.g., canine teams trained to sniff out cell phones) (3)
Cell phone access management systems (systems that intercept calls in order to prevent
inmates from accessing carrier networks) (4)
None (5)
Other: specify (6) ________________________________________________

Q28. Which of the following describes the inmate visitation policy in this facility?
Contact visits (the first two options) include visits where the inmate and visitor are allowed to hold
hands with and/or hug their visitors for an extended period of time or at multiple times during the
visit.
Note: If visits are in-person (e.g., inmates and visitors sit at a table together without a glass barrier
between them) but inmates are not allowed to touch their visitors, or are allowed only a quick
hug/kiss at the beginning or end of the visit, please select option 3.
Select all that apply.
All inmates are allowed contact visits (with the exception of inmates placed in
administrative segregation for punitive purposes) (1)
Some inmates, such as those in a special program (e.g., a family strengthening program),
are allowed contact visits (2)
Inmates are allowed to have in-person visits without contact (a visit without a glass barrier,
but where inmates are not allowed to have contact with their visitors) (3)
Inmates are allowed visits through a barrier (e.g., a glass wall) (4)
Inmates are allowed video visitation (5)
Drug sniffing dogs are kept in the visiting room or are available upon request (6)
Visitors must complete a background check (7)
Visitors with any criminal history are denied access (8)
Visitors who were previously incarcerated are denied access (9)

43

All visitors are subject to mass spectrometry/hand swabs (10)
Some visitors are subject to mass spectrometry/hand swabs (11)
Visiting rooms are under video surveillance (12)
Other: specify (13) ________________________________________________

Q29. Which of the following describe the inmate legal mail policy in this facility?
Legal mail includes correspondence relating to an open or closed legal case, including letters from
lawyers, judges, probation or parole officers, or parole board.
Select all that apply.
Staff open and search all inmate legal mail (1)
Staff open and search some inmate legal mail based on intelligence (2)
Staff open and search inmate legal mail at random (3)
Staff only provide photocopies of original legal mail to inmates (4)
Staff use mass spectrometry on all legal mail (5)
Staff use mass spectrometry on some legal mail based on intelligence (6)
Staff use mass spectrometry on legal mail at random (7)
Other: specify (8) ________________________________________________
Q30. Which of the following describe the inmate social mail policy in this facility?
Social mail includes any correspondence not relating to an open or closed legal case, including
letters from friends, family, clergy members, etc.
Select all that apply.
Staff open and search all inmate social mail (1)
Staff open and search some inmate social mail based on intelligence (2)
Staff open and search inmate social mail at random (3)
Staff only provide photocopies of original social mail to inmates (4)

44

Staff use mass spectrometry on all social mail (5)
Staff use mass spectrometry on some social mail based on intelligence (6)
Staff use mass spectrometry on social mail at random (7)
Other: specify (8) ________________________________________________

VII. Contraband Entry
Reporting Instructions
Please provide one survey response for each facility in your jurisdiction. If the answer to a
question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question in “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.
If the answer to a question is “none,” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided.
When the exact numeric answers are not available, provide estimates and check the box beside
each figure that is estimated. For example, 789 þ
Q31. Between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, how much of a problem were the
following entry points for contraband that was brought into the facility from the outside?
Contraband entry points are the means by which contraband that originates outside the facility is
brought into the facility.
Not a problem
Inmates returning
from work-release,
medical
appointments, court
visits, transfers, etc.
(1)
Security staff (2)

Non-security staff (3)

Volunteers (4)
Vendors/contractors
(5)
Visitors (6)

Somewhat of a
problem

A big problem

o

o

o

o
o
o
o
o

o
o
o
o
o

o
o
o
o
o
45

Letters and packages
(7)

o

o

o

Items being thrown
over the facility's
perimeter or flown
over by drone (8)

o

o

o

End of Survey
The survey will be submitted and this session will close once you hit the next button (">>") below. If
you need to review your responses, now is a good time to do so. Thank you for your participation.

46