UTAH STATE PRISON — A possible drone sighting over the Utah State Prison this week has Department of Corrections administrators discussing how to address the increasingly popular hobby.
On July 15, a corrections employee spotted what appeared to be a drone flying over one of the prison's recreation yards, said spokeswoman Brooke Adams.
"Based on the report, all recreation yards were briefly closed. Officers in patrol vehicles, watchtowers and on the ground visually searched the yards and surrounding areas for the drone or any items dropped but found nothing. The yards were reopened 15 minutes after the reported sighting," she said.
Although no device was found, Adams noted that there had been incidents at other prisons in the U.S. of people trying to deliver contraband to inmates using drones. She said delivering contraband to the prison is a crime, whether it's by mail, drone or other means.
Likewise, any attempt to have a drone fly into the prison area to pick up a note or anything else from an inmate is also illegal.
"We control everything going in and going out of the prison," Adams said.
In light of the possible drone sighting, administrators were discussing ways to prevent any possible drones from interfering with prison operations in the future, she said. Corrections officials have also told staff members to be vigilant in watching for drones in the area.
Prison administrators aren't the only ones worried about the increased popularity of drones. Wildfire officials in several states have issued warnings to the public to keep drones out of wildfires because they interfere with planes trying to make water and retardant drops.
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