OFFICERS SWEEP STATE PRISON FOR CONTRABAND

Search Targets Employees, Inmates, After Complaints Of Drug Rings Surface

HENNING, Tenn. -- About 300 state officers swarmed Tennessee's
largest prison in an unannounced search for banned items yesterday,
months after lawmakers were told that inmates were running drug
rings, probably with help from prison employees. Cell phones were a
particular target in the search at the West Tennessee State
Penitentiary because officials fear that inmates can use them by to
plot crimes and avoid the routine monitoring.

"It's an ability for them to have a private conversation," Correction
Department spokeswoman Amanda Sluss said, adding that the prison 45
miles northeast of Memphis routinely has more cell phones seized than
any other in the state. Drug dogs and electronic detection devices
were used in the daylong search of all 2,500 male inmates and 800 employees.

Reporters were allowed into a staging area on the 6,000-acre prison
grounds but couldn't get close enough to see searches. A woman
visiting the prison to pick up an inmate who was being released from
custody was arrested on drug charges.

Allison Charles, 23, of Rockford was jailed on charges of possession
of drugs and drug paraphernalia and introducing contraband to a
prison. "He got out, and she got in," Sluss said. "I'm not aware if
he got a ride." Drug dogs identified at least six cars in the prison
parking lot that should be searched, and some drugs also were taken
from inmates, she said. Officials weren't ready to talk about what
had been confiscated by agents from the Correction Department, Safety
Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, saying it probably
would be next week before a final tally was ready. Authorities said
it was the first time such an extensive search had been conducted at
a Tennessee prison and more could occur at the state's other lockups.

"Obviously something needs to be done, and I think it sends a clear
message that we're not going to tolerate the illegal activities --
whether it be the inmates or the correctional officers," TBI Director
Mark Gwyn said in Nashville.

"I feel very good that both the TBI and the Department of Corrections
have moved swiftly to deal with this issue," Gov. Phil Bredesen said.
"No one has tried in any way to cover it up or sweep it under the rug."

The operation has been planned since April, when some state lawmakers
criticized the department for not cracking down on contraband.

After Commissioner Quenton White told lawmakers that inmates probably
were being helped by state prison employees to run drug rings from
their cells, the legislature approved adding $481,000 to the
corrections budget to pay for six drug dog units to detect and deter
drug trafficking. Those dogs and their handlers are being trained and
were expected to be in operation later this month, Sluss said.
Yesterday's search used 34 drug-dog teams from state agencies and the
Nashville, Memphis, Jackson and Martin police departments. Sen. Doug
Jackson said yesterday that he was pleased to see the shakedown
taking place at West Tennessee State Penitentiary.

"I hope this marks a new day for the Department of Correction,"
Jackson, D-Dickson, said. Inmate advocates supported the raid.

Removing weapons and drugs from the prisons makes it safer for
inmates, their families and staff and "will create an environment
that is conducive to rehabilitation," said Alice Arceneaux, executive
director of Nashville-based Reconciliation Prison Ministry.