Improving Safety in Institutions with Technology
Technology can improve safety in institutional settings, such as jails and prisons.
Different entities operate different types of correctional facilities:
- Local jails are operated by county or municipal authorities; they typically hold offenders for short periods ranging from a single day to a year.
- Longer-term confinement facilities may be operated privately or publically by local, state or federal agencies.
- Other facilities are operated by special jurisdictions, such as the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. territories and federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
NIJ's Role
NIJ identifies needs, develops solutions and tests the effectiveness of those solutions with the goal of making technology affordable, reliable, and easy to install, use and maintain.
NIJ's funding for equipment and technology aims to balance the needs of prisons and jails and to use, whenever possible, available technology that can be quickly transferred for use in corrections.
Learn more about:
Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor That Complies With NIJ Ballistic Resistance Standard, 0101.06
Stab-Resistent Body Body Armor That Complies With NIJ Stab Resistance Standard, 0115.00
Research and Evaluation Results on Body Armor
Current and Future Research on Body Armor
Standards and Testing for Body Armor
0101.06, NIJ Standard, Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor
0115.00, NIJ Standard, Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor
Contraband Control and Detection
Detecting Drugs on Surfaces Quickly and Easily
An Introduction to Portal Contraband Detection Technology (pdf, 4 pages)
Walk-Through Metal Detectors Standard: current NIJ Standard-0601.02, updated standard under development
Hand-Held Metal Detetors Standard: current NIJ Standard-0602.02, updated standard under development