Appropriations committee hears GDC plans to add K9s, drones and detection systems to combat contraband

The Senate subcommittee reviewed a package of contraband‑mitigation measures the Georgia Department of Corrections described as necessary to address an increase in drones, cell phones and illicit drugs entering prison grounds.

Commissioner Oliver outlined requests for additional K9 handlers and 15 drones to assist outside‑the‑wire tracking, and said GDC currently fields about 26 K9s and handled roughly 1,600 K9 callouts last year. The agency also asked for funding for eight additional detection and suppression systems to detect contraband flights and to help intercept drones used to deliver illicit packages.

Senators asked about cooperation with the state police and municipal agencies and whether GDC could leverage a new state training facility mentioned in the budget. GDC said it often assists and is assisted by the Georgia State Patrol and local agencies and would seek to coordinate training and avoid duplication.

Committee members also raised legal and technical questions: whether suppression technology can be scoped to whitelist agency drones, how to prevent criminal actors from circumventing jamming measures, and whether the federal guidance and training required to operate mitigation equipment have been finalized. GDC staff described federal engagement (meetings with a presidential task force and NDAA provisions) and said authorization and training guidance from federal authorities are still pending.

On contraband cell phones, the department said staff typically pursue in‑house disciplinary sanctions for incarcerated people and criminal charges for outside individuals who smuggle items into facilities; senators and staff underscored the security risks phones pose for staff and the public and the need to pair technology with enforcement and prosecution strategies.