MDOC Officers Discover Large Contraband Stash at Carson City Prison

Michigan Department of Corrections officers discovered a large stash of contraband hidden within a modified storage box during a routine cell search at the Carson City Correctional Facility, WWMT reported.

The cache belonged to an inmate currently serving time for two counts of first-degree homicide. A veteran officer with nearly 30 years of experience identified a false bottom in the personal property box, which led to the discovery of three additional concealed compartments.

Inside the various hidden sections, officers recovered a wide array of prohibited items, including three cellphones, several modified tablets and tablet batteries, and approximately 50 electronic cords and adaptors. The search also yielded prisoner-made weapons, tattoo needles, hand tools such as screwdrivers, and materials used to trade or consume illegal drugs.

The Michigan Department of Corrections is currently utilizing its Safe Prisons Initiative to bolster prevention efforts. This program focuses on increasing security at entry points for visitors and staff, while also implementing enhanced mail screening and warehouse package scanners.

Officials believe that controlling these items is essential for maintaining order within the facility. Deputy Director Jeremy Bush emphasized the importance of these high-level inspections for the safety of everyone involved in the correctional system.

“I am grateful for the diligence and professionalism of our officers at Carson City,” Bush said. “Comprehensive searches protect staff, incarcerated individuals, and the public from the dangers posed by contraband devices, weapons, and substances.”

The department has noted that contraband communication devices are often used to facilitate criminal activity. Specifically, these devices can be used to coordinate violence, arrange drug deliveries, and harass victims.

This discovery arrives as a significant regulatory shift approaches regarding how prisons handle mobile technology. On November 19, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is scheduled to vote on final rules that would permit state correctional agencies to jam the signals of contraband cellphones within prison walls.