Essex County Sheriff and District Attorney Invoke Zero Tolerance for Correctional Facility Contraband

Sheriff's Badge

Kevin F. Coppinger
Sheriff

 

Essex County Sheriff's Department


20 Manning Avenue
P.O. Box 807
Middleton, MA 01949-2807

Sheriff's Department Patch

Telephone 978-750-1900
Fax 978-750-1999
www.EssexSheriffMA.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2017

 

For More Information:
William Raynard
Public Information Officer
978-774-3281

Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger and District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett today announced a zero tolerance policy regarding the possession or introduction of contraband into any Essex County correctional facility. Everyone interacting with an inmate needs to increase their awareness of contraband and not intentionally or unwittingly contribute to contraband smuggling.  Essex County Sheriff’s Department policies prohibiting any and all contraband will be strictly enforced without exception.

  Persons struggling with the disease of addiction will often resort to desperate measures to meet their opiate cravings, whether in the community or while incarcerated. All correctional facilities today are in a constant battle to interdict contraband including a variety of drugs.

 “I will do everything possible to protect our inmates, staff and the community,” Sheriff Coppinger stated.  “This will include the deployment of proactive, professional and reasonable tactics to detect and deter the use of drugs and introduction of contraband into any area for which I am responsible.”

“Individuals caught introducing contraband into an Essex County correctional facility will be prosecuted,” District Attorney Blodgett said.  “Contraband threatens the safety of the correctional facility population and staff and will not be tolerated.”

           There are currently 28 criminal cases pending involving inmates and families in which 32 people have been charged.  In addition, 4 other cases are currently under investigation.

 

 

 

 


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