Support letters from correctional agencies

Appendix G: 
Support Letters from Correctional Agencies 

74

75

76

77

Denver Sheriff Department
Office of the Sheriff
490 W. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80204
p: 720-337-0094
f: 720-337-0206
www.denvergov.org/sheriff

September 18, 2017

Dear colleagues:
I am writing this letter in full support of the National Institute of Justice, Urban Institute,
and American Correctional Association to launch the National Survey of Correctional
Contraband (NSCC). There is a critical gap in the field in terms of understanding the scope of
contraband and the security issues that accompany it. This is particularly true among jails,
where data on contraband is not as systematically collected or shared. As a participant of a pilot
test of the NSCC, the Denver County Sheriff’s Office believes this project will be of critical
importance to correctional practice and management by providing agencies with detailed data
on contraband and by identifying promising strategies for contraband interdiction.
One of the aims of our agency is to protect the safety and welfare of our staff
and inmates in our facility, as well as the public. Contraband is a serious concern for us, as its
presence in our jail is a threat to security. For this reason, there is a pressing need for
comprehensive data on contraband, contraband-related issues, and the policies and practices
that agencies can use to find and remove contraband from their facilities. The NSCC seeks
to meet these needs by collecting information on contraband and contraband interdiction from
a nationally representative sample of both prisons and jails.
We support the NSCC and believe it will be an invaluable resource for prison and jail
administrators alike. We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this important project.
Sincerely,

Patrick Firman
Sheriff, City and County of Denver

78