Re: X-rays or Strip Search? -Reply

[Kathleen Kaufman <KKAUFMAN@dhs.co.la.ca.us>]

This unit has been used for some period of time in about 10 CA prisons. I
have inspected the unit at the manufacturer's site. The dose is low, on
the order of 5-10 microrem to the front & then the back (& the sides if
they choose to do that). Because the dose is so low, it is very hard to
accurately measure. The unit uses a backscatter technique. Also, there
is nothing like a spacer that assures that all maintain a certain distance, &
so the dose can vary a lot depending on where one is standing. The
current procedure for scanning babies & small children (yes, no one is
exempt) is for the mother to hold the baby in front of her, turn the baby
around to scan its back, then hold the child on her hip while she gets
scanned front & back- so the baby gets double the dose, & possibly a lot
more because the mother may be holding the child much closer than an
adult would stand. Some visitors visit 2-4 times per week. There has also
been legislation proposed in CA that would require everyone having
contact with inmates (guards & other workers) to undergo whatever
procedure inmate visitors undergo. That means that evrytime they go out
for lunch, break, etc. they would have to be scanned, so it could be
multiple times/ week. Frankly (my own opinion) I question the efficacy
anyway. It would have to be a very large quantity of drugs taped to the
body before the scanner would see it (in the manufacturer's literature
the pictuire identifies someone with 1/2 pound of explosives taped to
their body), & the prisons' metal detectors are set at a much higher
sensitivity than those at airports- they can pick up metal fillings if the
prison wants to. The unit doesn't see body cavities, so it wouldn't catch
that method anyway, but there is a privacy issue. Other inspectors have
told me that they have heard guards having a hoot over particular
images. The visitors are given no option- either be scanned or you can't
visit. As  maintaing family ties is one of the most effective means to
reduce repeat offenses, it's not a good thing for any of us to discourage
visiting. The CA Radiologic Health Branch is very opposed to these units,
& are trying to get some regulations approved that would prevent their
being used. What's next- schools? Airports? Sometimes the cure may be
worse than the disease..

(Usual disclaimer re employer not pre-approving this message)
kkaufman@dhs.co.la.ca.us

>>> "Busby, Bruce" <bab1303@doh.wa.gov> 12/01/98 10:26am >>>
Hi all,

I was asked recently about this from a concern citizen from California 
with a relative in prison, who said that this new practice will go into 
effect this week (Dec 3...) at Folsum Prison.  Anyone have more 
information (like dose estimates, say two visits a month for a year or 
for ten years...)? 

Is this a new urban legend?


--------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce A. Busby    -     Radiation Health Physicist
W- bab1303@doh.wa.gov      H-babusby@aol.com
Rad Prot. Div. - Dept. of Health - Washington State
7171 Cleanwater Lane, Bldg. 5   Olympia, WA  98504

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