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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 28 october 2019
Nebraska prisons seek crackdown on out-of-control contraband

By GRANT SCHULTE behind bars has surged
Associated Press in recent years, with cell-
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Au- phones fetching prices of
thorities have declared war $500 to $1,000 each.
on contraband in Nebras- Nebraska prison officials
ka's largest prisons, repeat- confiscated more than 250
edly combing cells in the contraband phones last
hunt for cellphones, drugs year. The state's inspec-
and weapons, but one tor general for corrections
top administrator admits described cellphones as a
the sweeps probably miss "significant safety concern"
dangerous items and char- because inmates use them
acterizes the cleanup as a to coordinate gang activ-
near-impossible task. ity and communicate with
Contraband in prison is the outside world.
nothing new, but experts Kempf said many prison of-
say fighting the problem ficials would like to use the
has become harder thanks kind of cellphone jamming
to technology that facili- technology that was tested
tates smuggling, as well in a South Carolina correc-
as persistent staffing short- tional facility in April, but
ages and a small number current federal regulations
of correctional workers and In this Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, photo guards observe inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, in keep them from adopt-
visitors who go to extreme Lincoln, Neb. ing the technology. A bill
lengths to sneak illegal Associated Press pending in Congress seeks
items inside. to allow prisons to use jam-
"It's becoming more of officials last month placed rector Scott Frakes said he tered one inmate who con- mers, but it's opposed by
a challenge," said Kevin the Nebraska State Peni- asked the National Guard, cealed a 10-inch (25-centi- the nation's cellphone ser-
Kempf, executive director tentiary on lockdown twice Lincoln police and the Ne- meter) piece of sharpened vice providers, which say
of the Association of Cor- in one week. The surprise braska State Patrol to assist metal in his rectum. the technology could in-
rectional Administrators. "A shakedowns yielded ille- so the searches could be "I've seen the X-rays, and I advertently block service
prison is nothing more than gal drugs, shanks and cell- conducted without pulling shake my head," he said. to people living close to
a small city with razor wires phones, but prison officials correctional staffers from Earlier this year, a man was prisons. The Nebraska State
and fences around it. You say they probably didn't get other prisons. arrested for allegedly trying Penitentiary presents the
have staff and vendors go- everything. Another search A small number of staff- to fly a drone loaded with most problems because
ing in and out all of the time last week by three dozen ers and visitors are respon- marijuana and tobacco of the large number of in-
and, unfortunately, when Nebraska National Guard sible for the contraband, over the Lincoln Correc- mates and its location in
there's money involved, it's members uncovered more including one visitor who tional Center. the middle of Lincoln.
tough to prevent all contra- drugs, homemade weap- hid drugs in the folds of his Cellphones have become "It's easy to get things in
band from getting in." ons and alcohol at the Lin- fat, Frakes said. Frakes said so prevalent in prisons — there," said Doug Koe-
Spurred by a string of as- coln Correctional Center, inmates and visitors con- and present such a large bernick, a state inspec-
saults on guards and an a prison for medium- and stantly find creative ways security risk — that lawmak- tor general who serves as
increase in synthetic drugs maximum-security inmates. to hide contraband. In his ers approved new criminal an independent watch-
such as K2, which mimics Nebraska Department of previous prison job in Wash- penalties in May to discour- dog over the corrections
the effects of marijuana, Correctional Services Di- ington, he said he encoun- age smugglers. Demand department.q

Girlfriend of Kansas man who wounded 2 lawmen enters plea

ment and obstruction of tigation for the disappear- guns and ammunition. She
law enforcement. ance of an Illinois woman said she and her son got
Erin Baker, 27, of Ellinwood, when he died in April. In- away once they dropped
entered the plea Friday, vestigators have said Bak- Madden off at the home
The Wichita Eagle report- er's child was present when of his father, 65-year-old
ed. In exchange, prosecu- Madden critically wound- Thomas Madden. That's
tors dropped a charge of ed Rice County Undersher- where police say David
interference with law en- iff Chad Murphy during a Madden fatally shot his fa-
forcement. A no contest traffic stop. ther, wounded the sheriff in
plea means the defendant Baker previously told KWCH- the leg, then killed himself.
isn't disputing the charge TV she was driving when Officials alleged that Baker
but also isn't admitting guilt. Murphy pulled her over in obstructed the investiga-
Baker is expected to re- the town of Sterling, about tion by leaving the scene
ceive probation when she's 70 miles (110 kilometers) and not attempting to con-
sentenced Dec. 18. northwest of Wichita. She tact authorities.
This Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 photo provided by the Barton The Kansas Bureau of In- said Madden, a 37-year- A judge on Friday rejected
County Sheriff's Office in Great Bend, Kan., shows Erin Baker. vestigation say Baker put old former Marine, had a a prosecutor's request for
Associated Press her 7-year-old in danger gun in his lap and started Baker's $10,000 cash bond
by continuing a relation- shooting when Murphy ap- to remain intact, ensuring
LYONS, Kan. (AP) — The law enforcement officers ship with David Madden, proached the vehicle. she stayed behind bars un-
girlfriend of a Kansas man before killing himself has despite knowing he was a She said Madden then or- til her sentencing. She was
who fatally shot his father pleaded no contest to ag- convicted felon with a gun. dered her to drive to his instead released on a re-
and wounded two Kansas gravated child endanger- Madden was under inves- house, where he got more cognizance bond.q