New Law Increases Penalties for Dropping Contraband from Drones into Prisons
Delaware Gov. John Carney signed legislation at Vaughn Correctional Center that increases the penalties for individuals trying to use a drone to drop contraband into any of the state’s prisons.
The legislation comes after correctional officers at Vaughn saw unmanned aircraft flying over the prison. Department of Correction Commissioner Claire DeMatteis said until now there was really no penalty for inmates using drones to bring in illicit items, according to a news report. DeMatteis said there’s been incidents in other states where drones have dropped wire cutters, phones, drugs and guns. She said the legislation signed by Gov. Carney sends a clear signal not to attempt that in Delaware.
Under the new legislation, individuals convicted of using a drone to drop contraband into a state prison could face up to three years in jail. DeMatteis said they have the technology to identify incoming drones and track down who is flying them, says the news report.
“We send the message out now, don’t even think about doing that," she said. "We’ll detect it, we’ll find you and we’ll prosecute and you’ll spend time in jail for doing it.”
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