Ion Spectrometry

and Other Barriers to Visitation

Video: Prisons Scrapping Ion Detection Machines - from CW-TV 33, Dallas, TX, May 7, 2008

Video: Family turned away from federal prison after death of prisoner's mother - from CW-TV 33, Dallas, TX, November 3, 2007

Video: Nora's mom, 85-year old Bea Callahan, denied prison visit with her son after "positive drug test" - from CW-TV 33, Dallas, TX, May 3, 2007

Video Update: [BOP] Officials Suspend Use Of Prison Testing System; from WEEK-TV (IL), 4/22/08

Video: False Positives Cause Problems For Prison Visitors; from WEEK-TV (IL), 2/25/08

BOP Suspends Use of Ion Machines

(Memo posted at FCI Seagoville housing units and library on April 11, 2008)

Ion Spectrometry Drug Detection Equipment

We have discovered that our ion spectrometry drug detection equipment has software problems.

The Office of Security Technology (OST) has notified the manufacturers of these problems and they are working on corrective action.

The Bureau of Prisons is suspending the use of ion spectrometry drug detection equipment until the problems are corrected by the manufacturers and the results are confirmed by OST.

Inmates can make a request to unit staff that the Warden consider reinstating a visitor's visiting privileges if the visitor is currently under suspension based solely on a positive test by ion spectrometry drug detection equipment.

Likewise, the suspended visitor can make a written request to the Warden to consider reinstating his or her visiting privileges if the visitor is currently under suspension based solely on a positive test by ion spectrometry drug detection equipment.

The Warden will designate specific staff to investigate and confirm whether the suspension currently in effect on a specific visitor was based on the use of ion spectrometry drug detection equipment and was not taken because of a violation of the institution's rules or practices.

See also:

4/10/08 Memorandum barring [BOP] Ion Spec use, as distributed under signatures of Joyce Conley (Asst. Dir., Correctional Programs) and Thomas Kane (AD, Information, Public Policy, and Public Affairs). Two other documents also included in the BOP's FOIA response. These public records are now online at: www.victorvillefoia.org/downloads/BOP_Memos_Barring_Ion_Spec_Use.pdf

November 2007 dismissal order from the Central District of Illinois, which recites the BOP's claim of "less than . . . 1% rate of false positive results," at: www.victorvillefoia.org/downloads/1_07-cv-01218-6-CDIL_Ion_Spec_chllnge.pdf

(Thanks to attorney Jay Hurst of FedCURE for the above documents)

Article: False Positives Cause Problems For Prison Visitors; from WEEK-TV (IL), 2/25/08

Article: Prison Tests Keeping Out Some Drugs, And Visitors; from Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX), 7/29/07

BOP Program Statement # 5510-12 on "Searching, Detaining, or Arresting Visitors To Bureau Grounds Facilities", 1/15/2008 (pdf)