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Corrections director outlines contraband‑detection technology options, Narcan use and mental‑health construction update
Summary
Mike Myers, director of the Douglas County Department of Corrections, told the committee the jail is evaluating a millimeter‑wave body scanner (~$50,000), a CT‑style possessions scanner (~$50,000) and an electronic drug‑identification device called the Foxhound ($40,000–$80,000), and staff will explore using opioid settlement funds to pay for equipment.
Mike Myers, director of Douglas County Department of Corrections, briefed the Criminal Justice Committee on several topics including contraband detection technology, opioid antidote options, inmate education and a mental‑health facility construction update.
Myers described three technologies staff are evaluating to limit contraband entering the jail: a millimeter‑wave body scanner (similar to airport scanners) intended for staff, volunteers and contractors; a CT‑style x‑ray scanner for inspecting possessions; and an electronic drug‑identification device described in the meeting as the “Foxhound.” Myers said the millimeter‑wave unit and the CT scanner each are approximately $50,000; the Foxhound was quoted in a range of $40,000 to $80,000 depending on options, and he said all three together would be “under 400,000.” He emphasized these are examples being evaluated and “this has not been put out to bid. This is not an endorsement of this project.”
Myers said the county will investigate whether opioid settlement funds — which other jurisdictions have used for similar purchases — could cover some or all of the costs.
On opioid overdoses and antidotes, Myers reported that county staff began tracking Narcan administrations at the start of the year. He gave month‑by‑month counts: January — 2 people, 6 doses; February — 4 people, 16 doses; March — 5 people, 16 doses. He said Narcan (naloxone) is effective only on opioids and that the county currently receives Narcan from the state at no cost. Myers said the county has a May 1 meeting scheduled with a company called Indivir to discuss a potential pilot of an alternative antidote he named in the meeting as “OPVI” (described as having a longer half‑life but a longer time to initial response than naloxone). He said some agencies in research have used naloxone for quick reversal followed by the longer‑acting antidote to sustain the response.
Myers also provided program updates: the jail reported 36 GED graduates in the past year, 72 active students and 107 people on the GED program wait list; staff said they hope to shorten that wait list. He showed photos and described recent vertical progress on the mental‑health addition adjacent to the existing jail, noting a stair/elevator tower and steel work to connect the existing facility to the new structure.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether Narcan administrations were definitely opioid‑related; Myers said most appeared to be opioid‑related but that some hospital toxicology results were not consistently shared back with the jail, and he said the medical department was still analyzing the data.
Ending: Myers requested guidance on funding priorities as staff determine next steps for equipment procurement. No formal vote or commitment to purchase was made at the meeting.
