Comparison of TSA Screening and Prison Visitor Screening
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:09 am
#1
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Comparison of TSA Screening and Prison Visitor Screening
Somebody rhetorically posted a while back that their experience with the TSA at an airport was like what one goes through to visit an inmate at a prison. As a public service, I have gone beyond the rhetorical and found a real-world example. Here are visitor entry procedures for the Arizona State Prison, courtesy of the internet:
1) VISITATION WILL BE SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 08:00AM to 12:00PM & 12:00PM TO 04:00PM.
2) TO VISIT A MEDIUM CUSTODY INMATE YOU MUST REGISTER BETWEEN 7:30AM TO 10:00AM, OR 11:30AM TO 2:00PM.
3) ADULT VISITORS MUST BRING A CURRENT PHOTO I.D., I.E., DRIVERS LICENSE, GOVERNMENT I.D., PASSPORT, MILLITARY I.D., OR IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE CARDS.
ALL VISITORS AND THEIR POSSESSIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL SEARCH BY STAFF, ELECTRONIC METAL DETECTION DEVICES, BARRIER SNIFF SCREENING (NARCOTICS DETENTION) BY A DEPARTMENT SERVICE DOG,
AND/OR ION SCREENING. VISITORS REFUSING TO SUBMIT TO A SEARCH SHALL BE DENIED VISITATION. CONTRABAND IS DEFINED AS: ANY ITEM CONSIDERED A DETRIMENT TO THE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND ORDERLY OPERATION OF THE PRISON. THIS INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ANY ITEM; WHICH COULD BE USED AS AN AID TO ESCAPE, WHICH COULD BE USED TO DISGUISE OR ALTER AN INMATES APPEARANCE; ALCOHOL, ILLEGAL DRUGS, WEAPONS, CAMERAS, VIDEO, AUDIO OR OTHER RELATED EQUIPMENT.
Arizona State Prison Visitor Procedures
In another section, the prison also declares large amounts of cash to be illegal -- more than $20 if I recall correctly.
The similarity is remarkable.
PROCEDURES FOR CENTRAL UNIT MEDIUM VISITS
1) VISITATION WILL BE SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 08:00AM to 12:00PM & 12:00PM TO 04:00PM.
2) TO VISIT A MEDIUM CUSTODY INMATE YOU MUST REGISTER BETWEEN 7:30AM TO 10:00AM, OR 11:30AM TO 2:00PM.
3) ADULT VISITORS MUST BRING A CURRENT PHOTO I.D., I.E., DRIVERS LICENSE, GOVERNMENT I.D., PASSPORT, MILLITARY I.D., OR IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE CARDS.
SEARCHES OF VISITORS FOR CONTRABAND
ALL VISITORS AND THEIR POSSESSIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL SEARCH BY STAFF, ELECTRONIC METAL DETECTION DEVICES, BARRIER SNIFF SCREENING (NARCOTICS DETENTION) BY A DEPARTMENT SERVICE DOG,
AND/OR ION SCREENING. VISITORS REFUSING TO SUBMIT TO A SEARCH SHALL BE DENIED VISITATION. CONTRABAND IS DEFINED AS: ANY ITEM CONSIDERED A DETRIMENT TO THE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND ORDERLY OPERATION OF THE PRISON. THIS INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ANY ITEM; WHICH COULD BE USED AS AN AID TO ESCAPE, WHICH COULD BE USED TO DISGUISE OR ALTER AN INMATES APPEARANCE; ALCOHOL, ILLEGAL DRUGS, WEAPONS, CAMERAS, VIDEO, AUDIO OR OTHER RELATED EQUIPMENT.
In another section, the prison also declares large amounts of cash to be illegal -- more than $20 if I recall correctly.
The similarity is remarkable.
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:18 am
#3
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Wouldn't it be great if someone with the time, money, etc., etc., would pull a Chris Soghoian on the WBI: go through WBI with some small item of contraband in a body cavity and then produce it in the sterile area.
Unfortunately, they'd probably end up being "punished" for bringing to light the fallacy WBI protects us, but hopefully they'd not get any "hard time", just community service.
Unfortunately, they'd probably end up being "punished" for bringing to light the fallacy WBI protects us, but hopefully they'd not get any "hard time", just community service.
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:20 am
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In other words...the people who want to take down a plane will always find ways to take down a plane. why keep punishing the rest of us?
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:25 am
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Anyone who watches Locked Up would know the futility of it anyway. Prisoners can fashion a weapon out of anything. Prisoners manage to make wine in the toilets.
In other words...the people who want to take down a plane will always find ways to take down a plane. why keep punishing the rest of us?
In other words...the people who want to take down a plane will always find ways to take down a plane. why keep punishing the rest of us?
TSA feels that it is at the tip of the spear when it comes to preventing another 9/11. Sadly, if another 9/11 happens it won't be done by hijacking scheduled airline flights.
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:45 am
#6
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...PHYSICAL SEARCH BY STAFF...
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:46 am
#7
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Aug 7, 2009 | 11:50 am
#8
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This is precisely why they have zero credibility with anyone whose brain is bigger than 3 fl. oz.
Aug 7, 2009 | 11:51 am
#9
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Sadly, untill people can discuss this stuff like adults in the US, if there was ever any loosening of security procedures and some nut job attacked a FA with a butter knife, the manufactured hysteria would lead to resignations, political ads, and even more ridiculous procedures.
I'd love to see Janet and the Obama administration sack up and dismantle this apparatus, but I'm not holding out any ..hope..
I'd love to see Janet and the Obama administration sack up and dismantle this apparatus, but I'm not holding out any ..hope..
Aug 7, 2009 | 12:03 pm
#10
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Sadly, untill people can discuss this stuff like adults in the US, if there was ever any loosening of security procedures and some nut job attacked a FA with a butter knife, the manufactured hysteria would lead to resignations, political ads, and even more ridiculous procedures.
I'd love to see Janet and the Obama administration sack up and dismantle this apparatus, but I'm not holding out any ..hope..
I'd love to see Janet and the Obama administration sack up and dismantle this apparatus, but I'm not holding out any ..hope..
Aug 7, 2009 | 6:53 pm
#11
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The similarity is...not at all significant.
By your logic, going to a courthouse is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to a major office building with security is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you need ID, walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to an embassy is like GOING TO PRISON!!!...
Have you ever actually visited a prison? Because they're so patently dissimilar that I think you'd be unlikely to make the comparison if so.
By your logic, going to a courthouse is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to a major office building with security is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you need ID, walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to an embassy is like GOING TO PRISON!!!...
Have you ever actually visited a prison? Because they're so patently dissimilar that I think you'd be unlikely to make the comparison if so.
Aug 7, 2009 | 9:13 pm
#12
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The similarity is...not at all significant.
By your logic, going to a courthouse is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to a major office building with security is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you need ID, walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to an embassy is like GOING TO PRISON!!!...
Have you ever actually visited a prison? Because they're so patently dissimilar that I think you'd be unlikely to make the comparison if so.
By your logic, going to a courthouse is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to a major office building with security is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you need ID, walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to an embassy is like GOING TO PRISON!!!...
Have you ever actually visited a prison? Because they're so patently dissimilar that I think you'd be unlikely to make the comparison if so.
It was clear that what the OP posted and the screening TSA forces on citizens who have not committed a crime or wish to visit someone who has committed a crime is very much the same.
Tell me how they differ?
Aug 7, 2009 | 10:19 pm
#13
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It's not that they differ on the qualities presented (both require ID, security screening), it's that there are not enough similarities to make a comparison worthwhile.
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?!
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?!
Aug 7, 2009 | 10:23 pm
#14
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It's not that they differ on the qualities presented (both require ID, security screening), it's that there are not enough similarities to make a comparison worthwhile.
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?!
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?!
Aug 8, 2009 | 8:14 am
#15
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It's not that they differ on the qualities presented (both require ID, security screening), it's that there are not enough similarities to make a comparison worthwhile.
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?!
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?!
My mistake.