Summary: Drone jail threats include contraband drops, surveillance, cyber risks, and IEDs—detection systems are key to protecting personnel and facilities while reducing violence, escapes, and future drone-borne contraband deliveries.

Concerned about drones over your jail, prison or other correctional facility? 

While contraband delivery is the most common reason jails are worried about drones, there are other risks too which can impact staff or inmate safety. 

Here are three drone threats to consider at your jail.

1. Drone Jail Contraband Delivery

Many jails are battling an influx of contraband thanks to drones. 

Smugglers often use drones in coordinated flights to deliver the following to jail inmates:

• Drugs – which can cause riots and present a safety risk.
• Phones – that allow inmates to coordinate activities with each other and with the outside world.
• Tools – like the wire cutters used to escape a South Carolina prison in 2017.
• Weapons – that pose an immediate threat to both prison staff and inmate safety.

2. Drone Jail Unauthorized Surveillance

Using a drone, bad actors can observe if, and how quickly, you can respond to an incident.

The latest high resolution drone cameras have a 30x zoom or more lens that can read license plates and name tags. So watching the movement of your security staff will seem easy in comparison. Bad actors can use drones to see your security routes and response times, giving them all the information they need to plan future activities.

In addition, nefarious actors could view:

• The location and direction of jail security cameras
• Identifying marks, brands or serials on your physical security equipment, which may include gates, locks, and access control systems
• Staff entering a code or PIN number into an access control panel

Nefarious actors could use this information to gain unauthorized access to any jail not paying attention.

Further, they could also record activity within your jail and send it to the media or post it on social media, sparking a negative public response.

3. Drone Jail Unauthorized Access

If someone flies a drone over an electronic physical security measure, such as a gate, they could attach an electronic device to open it.

Not only can a drone gather all the data about your physical security needed to plan for unauthorized access, it can also give bad actors a way to gain access. This could be from the outside, by using a drone to open electronically controlled security barriers, like gates. Or, it could be from the inside. A drone can deliver the right tools to inmates so they can access areas of your facility. For example, a rope ladder (true story) inmates could use to reach roof deliveries.

The Solution for Drone Jail Airspace Awareness

The AirWarden® drone detection system detects drones as they enter your airspace and locates both the drone and the pilot/controller. Once detected, the system sends alerts to security personnel via command console, text, or email. It can also notify local law enforcement for a coordinated response.

In addition, replays of a detection event can show you the best places to look for evidence to help build your case. And experience has shown that installation of a jails drone detection system can actually reduce contraband delivery attempts.

Drone Jail FAQs 

Why are drones a growing concern for jails and correctional facilities?
Drones have become an easy and discreet way for smugglers to deliver contraband, conduct unauthorized surveillance, or facilitate access to restricted areas. Their ability to carry payloads, record high-resolution video, and bypass traditional perimeter security makes them a significant and rapidly evolving threat to staff, inmates, and facility operations.

What types of contraband are typically delivered to inmates using drones?
Common drone-delivered contraband includes drugs, cell phones, weapons, and tools such as wire cutters - items that can fuel violence, enable escape attempts, or allow inmates to coordinate illicit activities. 

How can drones be used for unauthorized surveillance of a jail?
Modern drones carry high-resolution cameras with up to 30x zoom capabilities, allowing bad actors to observe recreation yards, perimeter fences, or staff areas to capture video, photos, or live footage without being detected from the ground. Their small size, quiet operation, and ability to hover or maneuver in tight spaces allow operators to gather intelligence on guard routines, shift changes, blind spots, inmate movement, or security vulnerabilities. This information can then be used to plan contraband drops, escape attempts, or coordinated criminal activity outside the facility.

Can drones help someone gain physical access to a jail facility?
Yes. Drones can be used to gather detailed information about gates, locks, and other physical security systems and in some cases, carry electronic devices that can trigger or interfere with access control mechanisms. Their ability to collect intelligence from a distance makes them a significant threat to perimeter integrity and highlights the need for proactive airspace awareness.

How does the AirWarden drone detection system improve jail security?
AirWarden detects drones entering your airspace and pinpoints both the drone and its pilot/controller. Instant alerts enable rapid response to contraband attempts while helping deter future incidents.