Thunder Bay - The Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and the District Jail will soon be outfitted with new, full-body scanners for inmates.
The union representing local jail guards said it's a move in the right direction.
The province announced a $9.5 million investment this week in full-body scanners.
These machines, which are already seen in airports, will be installed in all 26 of the adult correctional facilities over a two-year period. They're able to detect non-metallic contraband.
In a six-month pilot study in Toronto, the scanners reduced the number of weapon-related incidents as well as illegal drugs in the jail.
The two local OPSEU presidents said it will be a big safety improvement for inmates and correctional officers, but they're still pushing for a new facility.
Thunder Bay District Jail will be one of 11 facilities to have the new scanners installed by 2017. The correctional center on Highway 61 will have them installed by 2018.
(TBT News)
