Radar Drone Detection in Prisons: 6 Common Mistakes
In a previously published article entitled “6 mistakes most prisons make when drones are delivering contraband,” Echodyne’s David Lewin explores some of the common mistakes that prisons make when dealing with the rapidly proliferating threat of contraband delivered by drones. Lewin, Regional Sales manager at Echodyne, points out that drone incidents have boomed in recent years, growing from just 130 reported incidents between 2015 and 2019 to 243 suspected drone incidents per year today (with the real number likely to be much higher due to the lack of a national database for the incidents).
Not only that, but drones are becoming larger and more capable, delivering drugs, weapons and cell phones to incarcerated individuals. Lewin warns that it is “only a matter of time” before a heavy-lift drone is used to carry convicted criminals over a prison fence to freedom.
“The rapid proliferation of drones has opened the door for criminals who are looking for cunning ways to get dangerous contraband over the prison fence, and drone delivery of contraband has quickly become a widespread crisis.”
The six common mistakes which can compromise security when dealing with drone incidents
Attempting to knock a drone out of the air
Knocking drones out of the air is a federal offense, as drones are considered aircraft and interfering with them in the National Airspace System (NAS) can lead to legal ramifications
The solution: Ensure corrections security are aware of these laws, and policies are enforced for what to do when a drop is occurring.
Not realizing a drone is present
Relying on passive sensors or the human eye is no longer enough to spot incoming threats. As a result, some facilities that think they do not have a drone problem likely already do. ‘Dark drones’ that evade traditional radio frequency (RF) sensors allow drones to fly undetected.
The solution: Deploy a layered system with radars, cameras and passive sensors to detect drones in any lighting conditions
Touching a drone after it lands/crashes
It can be tempting for prison staff to grab or pick up drones after they have crashed. But doing so can compromise its integrity for use in prosecution, and can destroy data, making it harder for law enforcement to track down the drone’s operators
The solution: Train staff on how to handle drones and consider building forensic capabilities to pull information from drones that crash on the property.
Assuming there is only one drone
Drones are often used in coordinated operations, with one used as a distraction while another delivers contraband, or one used to provide surveillance from above while another flies at a lower level.
The solution: Adopt a comprehensive response strategy which anticipates the use of multiple drones, and use advanced detection technologies such as radar which can monitor the entire facility.
Forgetting to engage with police before a drone incident
When prisons and police departments only engage with one another in the heat of the moment or in the wake of an incident, this can lead to delays and miscommunication
The solution: Contact police early to establish communication protocols and develop a common language for reporting and an incident reporting policy.
Forgetting to educate legislators on the drone contraband problem
Many prison administrators mistakenly assume lawmakers are aware of the issue. Legislators often have no idea of the extent of the issue, and prisons can be left handicapped in their responses by lacking the legal authority to deploy some ‘advanced’ detection technologies.
The solution: Build relationships and advocate policy changes to protect facilities.
Read the full article on Corrections1 for analysis on why these mistakes are so widespread and so important.