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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 7186
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM CONCERNING THE
USE OF BODY SCANNING MACHINES IN CERTAIN
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND REQUIRING REPORTS
CONCERNING STRIP AND CAVITY SEARCHES IN CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES.
SUMMARY
This bill (1) requires the Department of Correction (DOC)
commissioner, by December 31, 2025, to buy at least two body scanner
machines for use in a pilot program on inspecting inmates at certain
correctional institutions and (2) authorizes up to $500,000 in state
general obligation bonding to buy the machines, install them, and train
staff on how to use them. The bonds are subject to standard statutory
bond issuance procedures and repayment requirements.
The bill establishes an annual reporting requirement for the
commissioner on strip and cavity searches of inmates in correctional
facilities. The report must include (1) how many searches occurred in
the prior year in each facility; (2) if there were any lawsuits filed about
the searches in the year immediately before the report, with the status
or outcome of each; and (3) a copy of the current policy for doing these
searches, including any training requirements for correctional officers.
The first report is due by January 1, 2026, to the Government Oversight
and Judiciary committees.
Lastly, the bill requires the DOC commissioner to submit a report by
February 15, 2026, to the Government Oversight and Judiciary
committees that evaluates current directives and procedures for strip
and cavity searches in the state’s correctional institutions. The
evaluation must compare the directives and procedures to those of other
northeastern states and federal policies, based on institution type, and
highlight any differences. 2025HB-07186-R000523-BA.DOCX
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EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the bonding provision is
effective July 1, 2025.
BODY SCANNING MACHIN E PILOT PROGRAM
The bill requires the DOC commissioner to buy at least two body
scanner machines by the end of 2025 and install at least one each at the
York Correctional Institution and the John R. Mason Youth Institution
in Cheshire. He must also establish a pilot program on using the
machines to inspect inmates.
For the pilot program, the bill requires the commissioner to create
directives that prioritize using machine scans instead of correctional
personnel doing strip or cavity searches when those searches are usually
done under existing directives. The commissioner must train personnel
on using the machines and collecting data on their use.
The bill requires the commissioner to submit a report on the use of
the body scans by February 15, 2027, to the Government Oversight and
Judiciary committees. The report must include the following
information:
1. how many scans (a) the machines performed in 2026, by month
and reason for the scan and (b) discovered contraband, by month;
2. how many strip or cavity searches occurred in 2026, by month;
3. contraband types and material found that year, by the type of
search or scan used;
4. use of additional screening after implementing the body
scanners, including strip search, placement on a dry cell watch,
urinalysis, or medical assessment to confirm there was no
contraband; and
5. any recommendations for legislative changes. 2025HB-07186-R000523-BA.DOCX
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COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Oversight Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 12 Nay 0 (03/18/2025)