Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Jail Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beaver County considers $312,000 purchase of full‑body scanners for jail
Summary
Commissioner Manning said Beaver County is reviewing bids to buy two full‑body scanners for the county jail at an estimated combined cost of about $312,000 and plans to bring the purchase back for further consideration later this month.
Commissioner Manning said March 12 that Beaver County is reviewing bids to buy two full‑body scanners for the county jail, with a combined cost of about $312,000 if purchased together.
The purchase, Manning said, would include one scanner for visitor/entry screening and a higher‑sensitivity unit for inmates. "I mean, they'll pick up swallowed SIM cards and those kinds of things," Manning said, describing the devices' capability. Manning added the vendor offered a roughly 3% discount if both scanners are bought at the same time.
Manning said the county had originally discussed using opioid‑related grant money for scanners, but "that money can't be used for corrections. It can be used for people in treatment," and therefore is not available to buy equipment for the jail. He said he would "talk some more to Corey, go through the process and try and get that approved" and suggested bringing the item back for consideration "maybe next end of this month or something like that and get that process going."
Manning also reported personnel changes at the jail, saying the county has a new warden and a new deputy warden; he noted outgoing staffers will have their last day on Friday. He described the full‑body scanners as intended to reduce contraband and improve safety for inmates and personnel.
No formal vote or motion on the scanners was recorded in the work session. Manning framed the item as an upcoming procurement and sought further staff follow‑up and budget review before any formal action by the county commissioners.
