A new Santa Barbara County Grand Jury report says more needs to be done to prevent the smuggling of drugs, and other contraband into jail facilities. The report notes that in 2018, there were more than 200 incidents where alcohol or drugs were intercepted. But, the report admits it’s unknown how many items might have escaped detection.
The Grand Jury says deputies need to do more through pat-down searches of arrestees. Plus, it calls on the county to buy an airport style full body X-ray scanner for the Main Jail.
And, while the county has one drug sniffing dog, the report suggests getting two more. One would be permanently posted at the Mail Jail, and one at the new Northern Branch Jail set to open this fall in Santa Maria.
