OFFICIAL SAYS RAID MADE A POINT

Commissioner Contends Prison Crackdown Sends Zero-Tolerance Message

NASHVILLE - Correction Commissioner George Little said last week's
raid on West Tennessee State Penitentiary sends a message that
contraband will not be tolerated in the state's prisons.

About 300 agents from at least three state agencies swarmed the
prison early Thursday morning. Officers used drug dogs and electronic
detection devices to help in the search for drugs, alcohol, weapons,
cell phones and other banned items.

Little said Friday that officers found several cell phones, weapons
and "substances we are testing to verify exactly what they are."
Department of Correction spokeswoman Amanda Sluss said Thursday that
drugs were taken from inmates but that she didn't know the amount.

"Ours is a zero-tolerance stance," Little said. "We want people to
know we're going to do everything that we can do within our power to
ensure that the facilities are safe and secure."

The unprecedented operation, which lasted most of Thursday, had been
planned since April when some members of the General Assembly
criticized the department for not cracking down on contraband.
Then-Correction Commissioner Quenton White described to lawmakers
inmate drug rings operating from inside state prisons, something he
said would not be possible without the assistance of some prison staff members.

One lawmaker called the prison system budget flawed because it did
not include money designated for a contraband crackdown.

The Legislature voted to add $481,000 to the Department of Correction
budget to pay for six drug dog units to detect and deter drug
trafficking in state prisons.

Even though their training is not quite complete, Little said some of
those dogs were used during Thursday's operation and were
instrumental in finding items.

"It was a practical exam for them," said Little, adding that the dogs
and their handlers are expected to be in full operation later this month.

There was one arrest Thursday. Little said a woman who was at the
prison to pick up an inmate being released was charged with
possession of paraphernalia when it was discovered she had a crack
pipe. Little said it's unclear if the woman was trying to smuggle it in.