Drones have become a major problem around prisons and jails as ways to deliver contraband into the hands of inmates.  Autry State Prison in Hartfield Jackson has implemented a drone detection system to spot approaching drones to prevent them from flying into their restricted airspace.

Clay Nix, a director of Georgia department of corrections, stated that it was unnerving how these drones can fly to a location mapped by GPS in order to deliver items to inmates. What was even more unnerving is how fast these unauthorized deliveries can take..many times taking mere seconds to deliver the items to inmates.  Even with bars in the window, all the inmates have to do is reach their hands through a hole and grab the payload from the drone. This may sound hard to believe, but investigators have revealed that this is exactly what has been happening.

Nix stated that drone sightings near Georgia state prisons have increased to 138 since July of last year. Some might argue that if the drones don’t do the dirty work, corrupt guards will.  But the reality is that these drones make it extremely easy. Of the 33 prisons in the state, Autry State Prison is one of the largest drone targets. It has had 67 sightings alone since last year including a white DJI Phantom 3 which was discovered by the drone detection system.

The ani-drone system put into place by Autry State Prison detected the drone and correctional officers rushed to the location of the delivery. The drone quickly retreated back, but was caught in nearby trees.  Once officials retrieved the drone, they discovered that it contained marijuana, crystal meth, cell phones and fingerprints of the operator!  The investigation into the incident led them to an ex-convict named Adrian Cornelius who has spent some time in Autry for burglary and possession of narcotics.

Video footage was also retrieved from the drone and revealed the involvement of a juvenile who also lives nearby.  The department of corrections drone detection system has been quite successful and many expect these detection systems to be implemented at prisons around the country.