Contraband has always been a threat to prisons. It’s often brought into correctional institutions by visitors or in the mail, but there’s a rising threat: contraband flown in by drone and dropped inside the prison walls. This has been happening across the country and around the world, and authorities say organized crime is often behind the drone drops.“We in Massachusetts have been fortunate enough that we haven’t really…experienced much of this, but we want to be ready,” said Department of Correction Commissioner Shawn Jenkins.DOC has its own drones and is using them to teach correctional officers how to spot “enemy drones” approaching prison perimeters.”If you see an object at night – flashing lights – could it be a drone? Yes, but it could also be an airplane. So, when we put that into perspective for our staff – for our tower guys – we’re really benefiting everybody,” Department of Correction Lt. Chris Deveneau explained.That’s in addition to drone detection technology. Jenkins said deterring outside drones is one of his department’s top priorities at all 13 facilities.”This is a growing threat, right? And so, that becomes a challenge, bringing in various types of contraband – whether they’re weapons or drugs,” Jenkins said.Prisons and jails across the country are reporting regular incursions. In March, Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, New York, intercepted a drone-dropped payload containing knives, a cellphone, bandannas, hair clippers and a “green leafy substance.” In December 2025, a drone delivered steak, crab legs, marijuana, cigarettes and a tin of Old Bay seasoning to a state prison in South Carolina.At the federal level, the Bureau of Prisons reports 413 drone sightings in 2025, though it’s unclear how many drone drops were attempted or completed.While there have not been any drone drops yet in Massachusetts prisons, DOC knows that a contraband-by-drone attack could happen at any time and depending on what gets dropped and who picks it up, the contraband could jeopardize the safety and security of an entire correctional facility.”We go through drills where we will basically close down specific areas of yards, and have staff go through with canines searching these particular areas to make sure that if there is a drone in the area, we will search thoroughly, search that area once it’s detected, to ensure that nothing’s been dropped,” Jenkins said.High walls and barbed wire may be able to keep prisoners in, but they cannot keep drones out. That may be where the law needs to move as quickly as DOC’s fleet of drones.”You know that conversation that existed two years ago when we heard about drones was: we’re not allowed to interfere with them. We’re not allowed – we could just detect them. We’re not allowed to do much else other than that. And so it’s changing…laws are changing with regards to that,” said Jenkins.
Contraband has always been a threat to prisons. It’s often brought into correctional institutions by visitors or in the mail, but there’s a rising threat: contraband flown in by drone and dropped inside the prison walls.
This has been happening across the country and around the world, and authorities say organized crime is often behind the drone drops.
“We in Massachusetts have been fortunate enough that we haven’t really…experienced much of this, but we want to be ready,” said Department of Correction Commissioner Shawn Jenkins.
DOC has its own drones and is using them to teach correctional officers how to spot “enemy drones” approaching prison perimeters.
“If you see an object at night – flashing lights – could it be a drone? Yes, but it could also be an airplane. So, when we put that into perspective for our staff – for our tower guys – we’re really benefiting everybody,” Department of Correction Lt. Chris Deveneau explained.
That’s in addition to drone detection technology. Jenkins said deterring outside drones is one of his department’s top priorities at all 13 facilities.
“This is a growing threat, right? And so, that becomes a challenge, bringing in various types of contraband – whether they’re weapons or drugs,” Jenkins said.
Prisons and jails across the country are reporting regular incursions. In March, Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, New York, intercepted a drone-dropped payload containing knives, a cellphone, bandannas, hair clippers and a “green leafy substance.” In December 2025, a drone delivered steak, crab legs, marijuana, cigarettes and a tin of Old Bay seasoning to a state prison in South Carolina.
At the federal level, the Bureau of Prisons reports 413 drone sightings in 2025, though it’s unclear how many drone drops were attempted or completed.
While there have not been any drone drops yet in Massachusetts prisons, DOC knows that a contraband-by-drone attack could happen at any time and depending on what gets dropped and who picks it up, the contraband could jeopardize the safety and security of an entire correctional facility.
“We go through drills where we will basically close down specific areas of yards, and have staff go through with canines searching these particular areas to make sure that if there is a drone in the area, we will search thoroughly, search that area once it’s detected, to ensure that nothing’s been dropped,” Jenkins said.
High walls and barbed wire may be able to keep prisoners in, but they cannot keep drones out. That may be where the law needs to move as quickly as DOC’s fleet of drones.
“You know that conversation that existed two years ago when we heard about drones was: we’re not allowed to interfere with them. We’re not allowed – we could just detect them. We’re not allowed to do much else other than that. And so it’s changing…laws are changing with regards to that,” said Jenkins.
