Definitions of Contraband
GDC policy uses three distinct contraband categories, and the same definitions appear across multiple SOPs — a signal of their foundational importance.
Contraband is defined in SOP 206.02, SOP 206.01, SOP 226.04, SOP 213.17, and SOP 227.06 with consistent language: property items "which are not explicitly authorized for possession; which were acquired through unauthorized means; which exceed personal property limitations on value or amount; which cannot be maintained in a neat and safe manner; or which present a fire, sanitation, or security issue."
Nuisance Contraband is defined in SOP 206.02, SOP 206.01, SOP 226.04, SOP 213.17, and SOP 215.12 as "any item or article which may be or may have been authorized for possession, but which is now prohibited because of excessive quantities or otherwise presents a fire, sanitation, security, or housekeeping problem."
Illegal Contraband is defined in SOP 206.02, SOP 226.04, and SOP 215.12 as "any item or article that is illegal in nature as defined by State or Federal Law; any item or article that poses a serious threat to the security of the institution and is ordinarily not approved for possession or admission into the institution; any item (weapon) which could be used to cause injury to an individual."
The practical significance of these distinctions is procedural: SOP 226.04 explicitly states that "Nuisance Contraband shall not be recorded on" the Weapons and Contraband Log — meaning only standard and illegal contraband trigger the formal logging and reporting chain described below.
Authorization to Possess Property
SOP 206.02 establishes the baseline rule for all state, private, and county facilities: offenders "may possess only the property that is acquired by" one of six authorized methods — items issued upon or during admission, commissary purchases, approved vendor purchases, certain mail items, certain transitional center items, or property present upon arrival that meets authorization criteria. "Any item or article that is not acquired through authorized methods shall be considered contraband and shall be seized when found, whether it is in physical possession of an offender, in an offender's living quarters, or in common areas of the facility."
SOP 206.01 (Offender Personal Property Standards) supplements SOP 206.02 by specifying authorized quantities and types, including limits tied to locker storage capacity and fire, sanitation, security, and housekeeping concerns.
For probation detention centers, SOP 213.17 mirrors the same framework and requires detainees to be advised of authorized items during pre-admission orientation. Staff are specifically held responsible for "properly following established procedures in confiscating Contraband."
For transitional centers, SOP 215.12 imposes additional limits — for example, a resident may not possess more than one radio/cassette or MP3 player, and jewelry is capped at a combined value of $100. SOP 215.11 (Resident Rules and Regulations) requires each transitional center's resident handbook to include "definition of contraband and unauthorized items, and right of staff to search and inspect residents, rooms, and property."
For boot camps, SOP 210.04 restricts personal property to a narrow state-issued clothing list plus a limited set of personal items (stamps up to one book, legal materials, one religious text, prescription eyeglasses, limited correspondence and photographs). Commissary is limited to personal hygiene items not exceeding $12.00 in value. SOP 210.04 defines contraband simply as "any article not authorized to be in possession of an inmate/probationer," cross-referencing SOP 206.02.
Searches: Authority and Scope
General authority. SOP 226.01 (Searches, Security Inspections, and Use of Permanent Logs) is cited as the governing authority for searches across numerous other SOPs, including SOP 227.05 (Visitation), SOP 220.09 (Transgender/Intersex Management), and SOP 209.11 (Juvenile Offender Administrative Segregation). While SOP 226.01 itself is not reproduced in the provided corpus, its centrality is confirmed by its repeated citation.
Offender persons, quarters, and work areas. SOP 210.04 states directly that "inmates/probationers shall be informed that their persons, quarters and work areas are subject to search at any time. Unscheduled searches of inmates/probationers, bedding, lockers, work areas, dayrooms, study areas and latrine areas are in the best interest of good order and discipline."
Video recording during searches. SOP 204.11 requires body-worn cameras (BWCs) to be activated "during shakedowns, search of an offender or location, movement of an offender into segregation or isolation, or as otherwise directed by the Warden, Superintendent or designee." The policy also notes that video documentation may be useful "in documenting crime and accident scenes or other events, including confiscation and documentation of evidence or contraband."
Tactical Squads and Interdiction Response Teams. SOP 205.13 establishes that Tactical Squads and Interdiction Response Teams (IRTs) exist specifically to assist "with shakedowns, special details, and emergency situations." IRT members are assigned regionally and must meet heightened physical fitness standards. This SOP makes clear that large-scale search operations have dedicated, specially trained personnel.
Native American religious items. SOP 106.13 notes that approved religious paraphernalia (medicine bags, feathers, shells, sacred stones) "are subject to routine searches" and that inmates "will make these items available as in the case with all other personal property." Any Native American items not specifically approved "will be considered contraband and handled accordingly."
Body Cavity Searches
SOP 507.04.90 (Forensic Information) governs the intersection of health care and search authority. Health care personnel are explicitly prohibited from "conducting body cavity searches for contraband." Instead:
1. When an offender is suspected of harboring contraband in a body cavity, "the use of a Dry Cell [a cell without running water] as an initial measure will be encouraged to avoid the need for a body cavity search."
2. Body cavity searches "conducted for security reasons will be conducted only when there is reason to do so and when authorized by the Warden/Superintendent."
3. When ordered by the Warden/Superintendent, body cavity searches "will be conducted by a health care provider at an Outside Medical Facility" — not at the GDC institution.
4. "Invasive procedures (i.e., endoscopic) may be done with the written informed consent of the offender."
This framework means that GDC medical staff on-site are not the mechanism for body cavity searches; the Responsible Health Authority must arrange an outside facility.
Drug Screens
SOP 507.04.90 also addresses drug testing in the search context: "Urine samples for drug screens will be collected and labeled by security personnel. Health care personnel will not collect body fluid specimens for drug screens." Blood specimens for drug screening, if required, must be collected at an outside medical facility. Notably, SOP 507.04.90 requires medical staff to cooperate with security when a positive test may be explained by a prescribed medication — medical staff must identify potentially interfering medications, not to aid prosecution, but to potentially "exonerate the offender from false positive test results."
SOP 507.04.45 adds that correctional staff "will check for contraband medications during periodic shakedowns and report findings to the medical staff. All medications that are confiscated will be returned to the health care staff unless needed for evidentiary purposes related to a disciplinary report, criminal charges, or an adverse action against a staff member."
Visitor Searches and Contraband Prevention
SOP 227.05 (Visitation of Offenders) references SOP 226.01 as the controlling authority for searches conducted during visitation. Visitation is described as "a privilege for offenders and should not be considered a right," and visits "are to be scheduled and supervised, in strict accordance with the following procedures, which are designed to contribute to good public relations and provide a comfortable and secure visitation environment."
SOP 204.09 (Wireless Communications Devices) addresses a specific category of contraband control at entry: all staff entering facilities must disclose wireless communication devices at the first security checkpoint, where a Wireless Device Tracking Sheet is completed. Non-state-issued devices are prohibited without prior written approval from the Appointing Authority. An exception allows physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and Health Service Administrators to bring personal cell phones in with prior written approval. Any unauthorized device discovered constitutes contraband subject to incident reporting and disposition per SOP 206.02.
Logging and Reporting Requirements
SOP 226.04 establishes the Weapons and Contraband Log (Attachment 1) and the Monthly Summary of Weapons and Contraband (Attachment 2). Required log entries include:
1. Date the weapon or contraband was found
2. Brief description of the item
3. Location where found
4. Employee who found the item
5. Offender's name and GDC ID number, if found in an offender's possession
6. Disciplinary actions taken
7. Whether a warrant was sworn in local court
Nuisance contraband is explicitly excluded from this log. The Warden or Superintendent "shall review all Weapons and Contraband Logs." Completed logs must be submitted to the respective Regional Director no later than the 10th day of the following month, even when findings are negative ("Reports with negative findings are to be submitted to ensure that all facilities are accounted for"). Each Regional Director consolidates reports using Attachment 2 and forwards everything to the Field Operations Director's office by the 20th of the month. Both attachments are retained for one year and then destroyed.
Seizure, Storage, and Disposition of Contraband
SOP 226.04 states that disposition of any contraband recorded on the log "shall be done in accordance with SOP 206.02." All contraband "will be stored in the secure area designated by the Warden/Superintendent." For facilities with designated evidence lockers in outside mailrooms, the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) procedure applies.
SOP 206.02 defines the Evidence Locker as "a secure storage locker for illegal contraband maintained by the Georgia Department of Corrections, Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Removal of illegal contraband from the Evidence Locker will be restricted to the Investigator or Special Agent-In-Charge from OPS. OPS will maintain absolute control of the keys and locks to the Evidence Locker." Keys are issued to the Institutional Investigator and Special Agent-In-Charge, with additional copies at OPS Central Office and regional offices.
SOP 206.02 governs full disposition procedures for seized items, cross-referencing SOP 206.03 (Disposition of Abandoned, Tangible Inmate Property) for items no longer associated with a specific offender.
For transitional centers, SOP 215.12 includes specific attachments for property disposal, including a Resident Property Disposal Agreement, a Surrender of Property in Event of Escape form, Evidence Tags, and a Property Control Log.
Health Care Personnel: Prohibition on Forensic Participation
SOP 507.04.90 states categorically that "health care personnel will not participate in the collection of Forensic Information or evidence to be used against offenders." This prohibition covers body cavity searches, drug screens, psychological evaluations "for use in adversarial proceedings including disciplinary, court, and probation or parole hearings," and DNA collection other than for the state DNA database or court-ordered paternity testing. This SOP applies to all GDC facilities, including private and county prisons.
Contraband in Mail
SOP 227.06 defines contraband consistently with SOP 206.02 and establishes that incoming mail is subject to inspection. Mail room procedures are designed to detect contraband introduced through correspondence. "Privileged mail" (attorney mail, court correspondence, elected officials, GDC Commissioner, etc.) is subject to special handling protections but contraband within any mail category remains subject to seizure.
Transgender and Intersex Offenders: Strip Search Considerations
SOP 220.09 cross-references SOP 226.01 for search procedures applicable to transgender and intersex offenders. This SOP also governs housing placement decisions that may affect search protocols, particularly with respect to which staff conduct pat-down or strip searches — an area where PREA compliance is a stated objective.