SPRINGFIELD – To address ongoing efforts in stopping the flow of illicit substances coming through prisons by mail, State Senator Rachel Ventura outlined her plan for a K-9 mail drug detection pilot program during a subject matter hearing in the Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday.

“There has been an alarming increase in drug-related accidents and even deaths in incarceration facilities, leading to a potential need for a better drug scanning system. This pilot program can make serious strides in the ongoing effort to keep illicit substances out of incarceration facilities,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “The state should consider this as a viable alternative to an ongoing issue as it will not only boost security but ensure individuals right to their mail is protected.”

Senate Bill 2417 would create a three-year canine unit pilot program to detect illicit substances in mail within the Illinois Department of Corrections at a minimum of one facility between Menard Correctional Center, Pinckneyville Correctional Center or the Western Illinois Correctional Center. The department previously employed K-9s at adult transition centers and the now-closed correctional centers in Dwight and Tamms but phased out the program in 2015 due to limited resources and impact.

The pilot program would have guidelines in place with each year focusing on gathering information about the number of illicit substances found in the facility, the health problems caused by exposure to substances, and the costs of running the program. In the second and third years of the proposed pilot program, the canine unit would be put into action at the facility.

After the completion of the program, IDOC will report to the General Assembly with a recommendation on whether the program should continue, expand or be stopped, and include detailed reasons for their decision.

“The return of a K-9 unit for drug/contraband detection within IDOC is a crucial component in addressing the drug flow into the state prisons. K-9 detection units are a vital asset in drug interdiction, enhancing overall safety,” said Scot Ward, president of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Lodge 263. “This K-9 detection legislation sets a foundation of rules and standards that apply to all facilities; this will ensure a more consistent approach and create mechanisms for accountability and transparency.”

Senate Bill 2417 awaits further action in the Senate.