Weapons, Drugs Not Hard to Come by in Jail

If inmates want to get something illegal into the jail, directors of the Wake County facility say they can do it. They hide drugs and weapons on their bodies when they come in to jail and can get them from visitors or through the mail.

Monday, investigators from Wake County, Garner and Wake Forest searched all three county jails for contraband.

Some inmates know how to make weapons that can kill, and officers know what to look for.

"Typically what it's for is to go up across the person's throat, cut across their throat, very deadly," said Capt. Jimmy Brown of the Wake County Sheriff's Department. He was describing a crude weapon made out of a toothbrush and a razor blade.

Inmates also know how to smuggle drugs into jail. Investigators use trained dogs to search for drugs.

Directors of the Wake County jails say the facilities are understaffed and overcrowded. There are more than 1,000 inmates and less than 850 beds in the three Wake County facilities. Staff say inmates will do anything to get drugs inside.

"We've had crack cocaine in ears, in noses, basically any body cavity whatsoever they'll put it in," says Danny Alford, Wake County jail deputy director.

While the search goes on, inmates watch and wonder who will get busted.

"It's good because there's a lot of stuff in here that shouldn't be here, I don't mind it at all because i don't ever have anything," said one unidentified inmate.

In Monday's search, officers found a small amount of marijuana, but more alarming, they found razors, bats and a variety of homemade weapons. That's why Baker says he called for the search, to ensure the safety of his staff.

Baker says some of the inmates will be charged.