October 8, 2011 by Austin Cushing.

Even the most secure of maximum security prisons and supermax prisons are still required to provide some basic supplies to prisoners. However, this must be done with consideration for the use of these items in storing contraband or being crafted into weapons. Prison systems solve this problem with a variety of security toiletries that are designed for this purpose.

Toothbrushes are a common source of improvised weaponry within prison culture; the long handled versions can either be sharpened down for use as a stabbing weapon or can have a razor blade attached to the body to create an improvised knife. To help lower the usability of these common items as weapons, prisons use security brushes with thumbprint handles - including pre-pasted thumbprint toothbrushes for facilities that do not want to distribute toothpaste tubes - or finger toothbrushes that fit over the tip of the finger and are almost impossible to turn into weapons.

Another common source of improvised weaponry in prisons is the disposable razor; inmates need to shave, but normal disposable razors have handles that can be sharpened down, and the blade itself can be extracted for use as a weapon component. Prisons have solved this problem with the advent of security razors, with a minimum of sharpenable plastic content, blades designed to break apart if tampered with, and a flexible, thin handle with no hidden cavities for storing contraband and practically no utility as a weapon component.

Another common source of problems in a correctional facility is the fact that any container can be used to conceal contraband from officers. Security toiletries take this into account by providing solutions for minimum concealment - with clear 4 oz bottles of all-in-one shampoo/body wash/shave gel, or clear 1/3 oz packets for single-use distribution.

The use of security toiletries in correctional facilities, including detention centers, federal prisons, and state prisons, helps protect the lives of correctional officers and of inmates, allowing prisons to maintain standards of human decency in the safest possible manner for all concerned. These products, as well as related products for lower-security prisons, institutional usage, and hospitality usage, and other institutional and correctional supplies, are available for purchase by the case from Anchortex Corporation and American Detention Supplies. Quantity quotes are available for large orders.

Posted in Law Enforcement, Correctional, Police and Security, American Detention Supplies | No Comments »

September 25, 2011 by Austin Cushing.

Members of law enforcement know that no matter how calm a suspect may seem, once their back is turned, they may become a threat at any time. Belligerent drunks, hardened criminals, gang members, and even ordinary citizens may turn into lethal threats while a policeman’s back is turned. Often, the only thing standing between them and danger while driving is a well-made vehicle partition.

With this in mind, Anchortex Corporation supplies Setina vehicle partitions to law enforcement and security customers throughout the United States, as well as other security-conscious passenger transit agencies. For most agencies, a stationary vehicle partition is appropriate, with a polycarbonate transparent plate used for maximum safety and protection, or a partial or full metal diamond lattice screen when communication or ventilation needs must be met. Partitions are also available with lockable sliding window sections for ease of communication, or fold-down partitions for situations where a partition is not always needed. There are also specialized K-9 partitions for vehicles transporting canine officers.

Partitions are available for most cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans, as well as other vehicle equipment for police and security vehicles such as lightbars, bumpers, weapon storage systems, and window barriers. Contact our sales department for more information and to get a quote for your personal vehicle, department, or organization.

Posted in Law Enforcement, Correctional, Police and Security, American Detention Supplies | No Comments »

July 8, 2011 by Austin Cushing.

Law enforcement officers executing a search warrant face unique challenges. In most cases, they are not welcome and must gain forcible entry as quickly as possible before vital evidence can be destroyed or disposed of. For this reason, law enforcement officers engaged in dynamic entry activities typically use tools meant specifically to break down, cut
through, or pry apart obstacles that might impede them from conducting a thorough search. Thus, tactical entry kits are a common sight among search teams when resistance is expected.

A good, sturdy pair of bolt cutters are a vital asset to a tactical entry team. Padlocks, security chains, barbed wire, and chain link fences are often used to keep people out, but a sturdy pair of bolt cutters will let police search teams in. The best models include heat treated, hardened cutting edges to give them the best chance against sturdy bolts, and are designed specifically to not conduct electricity so that even electrified fences can be dismantled with relative ease.

Breaking down doors and other obstacles, or breaking into secured areas, is another common impediment to searching an area thoroughly. In these situations, the best tactical tool for quick entry is a combination of two separate tools - an axe head for cutting and a sledge head for smashing - into a single tool called a maul. The resulting tool is light enough to be easily carried, but tough enough to break open most obstacles.

Rounding out the tactical tool set, a good prybar or Hallagan tool allows the tactical entry specialist to breach a door or padlock that cannot or should not be broken or cut. These tools can be safely wedged or hammered into position, then pulled or hammered to pry apart or break open locked or jammed doors, sealed containers, and other obstructions with relative ease. They are preferably non-sparking and non-conductive so as to be usable in areas where a fire or electrical hazard exists.

A tactical backpack kit combines these three tools into a single unit that can be worn on the back, where the tools are easily accessible when needed but do not occupy the hands when idle. They allow search operations to be carried out efficiently and quickly, reducing the risk to officers and civilians. Every search team should have at least one tactical backpack kit ready to go when dynamic entry is authorized.

Posted in Law Enforcement, Correctional, Police and Security, American Detention Supplies, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

May 25, 2011 by Austin Cushing.

The question seems simple enough - which is a better towel to suit a large facility’s needs? Are there significant advantages to one over the other? Both towels have specific advantages that make them better suited towards a specific market, but both towels have their place within an institutional environment.

Cotton towels and cotton washcloths are naturally more absorbent than poly-cotton blends, capable of absorbing over twenty times their weight in liquids. Furthermore, cotton becomes stronger when wet, making it ideal for vigorous scrubbing and cleaning tasks. It can also withstand higher temperatures than blended fabrics, meaning that it can be sanitized in boiling water easily and making it ideal for institutional settings where cleanliness is highly important. Finally, it feels softer to the touch and is naturally hypoallergenic, resulting in a more comfortable experience when used. This makes them ideal for use in hotels, hospitals, and other institutional environments.

Blended poly-cotton towels and poly-cotton washcloths are less absorbent than 100% cotton, but are more easily maintained. The addition of polyester to the blend makes for a fabric that is more durable overall while retaining cotton’s advantages. Furthermore, poly-cotton blends repel dirt and grime more readily, and dry out more quickly after use. This makes them common staples in hotels, motels, locker rooms, prisons, and other institutional environments where mildew may be a concern.

Is your hospitality, institutional, or correctional facility looking to stock up on linens and laundry supplies? Contact one of our friendly sales representatives to find a solution to meet your size, weight, and color requirements without breaking your budget.

Posted in Correctional, American Detention Supplies | 1 Comment »

May 4, 2011 by Austin Cushing.

Someone recently asked me a question about our Humane Restraint items - how humane can a restraint really be? To answer that, you have to understand more about how restraint systems such as straitjackets, restraint chairs, and bed restraints are used.

First and foremost, physical restraints are used to ensure the safety of the people responsible for handling a potentially aggressive or agitated person, and the safety of the person themselves to prevent undue suffering or self-harm. As such, institutions, hospitals, and correctional facilities look for ways to restrain without inflicting harm or undue stress, while maintaining the level of safety and security needed. Restraints used for this purpose are made of heavy-duty leather, easy-care polyurethane, or compact nylon, providing a firm restraint that resists wear and tear while being far more comfortable to wear than metal.

One example of the use of humane restraint systems can be seen in hospitals and psychiatric institutions. In addition to lightweight gait belts, lap belts, and safety belts meant purely to prevent falls, buckling and locking restraints are available to accommodate aggressive patients. These can readily be combined with a restraint bed to provide an ideal platform for securing an individual in comfort and safety. Medical applications may require a secured position to prevent further injury after an accident or during care. For this purpose, non-locking restraints with control straps are used to secure an individual in place safely, often with interior foam padding or disposable fleece liners to provide additional comfort while maintaining a therapeutic state for recovery and safe transport. In this way, emergency medical personnel or hospitals can safely transport an individual without creating movement that may agitate or reopen existing injuries.

Police officers, jails, correctional facilities, and courthouses make use of humane restraint systems as well. While handcuffs are a common restraint mechanism, other restraint options are available. Locking restraints made of leather or polyurethane allow a prisoner to be secured in position in such a way as to minimize self-injury. For example, nylon control straps are used to secure the legs of a violent prisoner for transport, reducing squad car damage and personal injuries by restricting leg movement. Ambulatory restraint systems allow a prisoner’s hands and feet to be secured in a safe position to control movement without requiring behind-the-back cuffing that can result in long-term physical harm. Locking restraints made of leather or polyurethane allow a prisoner to be secured in position in such a way as to minimize self-injury. Transport belts are used with handcuffs to provide greater control over a detained subject, or with the included side cuffs to restrain an individual while keeping their hands separated for greater safety. Emergency restraint chairs provide a locking solution to secure aggressive or dangerous prisoners for transport in such a way as to prevent harm to themselves or others. Leg braces and locking weights allow for a discreet way to restrict the movement of would-be flight hazards during transport outside of a correctional facility, such as during a trial or prisoner transfer.

All of these solutions are designed to enhance the comfort of the restrained individual while still protecting the safety of those around them. For situations where confinement or restriction of movement is required either for medical or security reasons, our Humane Restraint products do exactly what they say - they restrain or restrict an individual from harming others or themselves without inflicting undue suffering or discomfort, and that is why I feel they are truly humane restraints.

– Austin Cushing
Webmaster, Anchortex Corporation

Posted in Medical, Law Enforcement, Correctional, Police and Security, Articles | 1 Comment »

November 17, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

Anchortex Corporation is pleased to announce that you can now build your own law enforcement, fire and rescue, security, and other badges through Smith and Warren’s VisualBadge badge creator! Simply use the online tool to build the badge(s) you need and submit them to our sales department for quotes!

Posted in Fire and EMS, Correctional, Police and Security | No Comments »

September 21, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

Anchortex Corporation is having a Work Pants Blowout Sale! We have a large quantity of work pants in our warehouse that we need to clear out before October 15th to make room for 2011 inventory. These work pants are typically used by major industrial, retail, and correctional facilities as part of a low-cost uniform solution; they are available in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes to meet the varying needs of our regular customer base. Our regular prices on these items are between $16.85 and $21.85 plus shipping through our webstore; we’ve been authorized to push this inventory out the door by any means necessary, which means delivered pricing of $12.90 or less.

For more information, check out our Inventory Clearance page to see what we still have in stock, and take advantage of this rare offer to stock your facility, store, or other venue. Offer ends October 15th or when all items are sold! Minimum quantities apply. Prices only valid on inventory items in required minimum quantities; for other quantities or items, visit our Red Kap section or contact an Anchortex sales representative.

Posted in Industrial, Sale, Correctional | 1 Comment »

August 12, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

(Anchortex-ANC-2010-0010)

Have you ever wondered to yourself what exactly those airport security people see when they look into your bags with an X-ray machine? Do you ponder what they could possibly be doing with your shoes when they run a check on them for explosives or narcotics? Do you contemplate how accurate their metal detectors can be to detect everything from a loaded firearm down to a spare house key you forgot to take out of your jacket pocket? Do you want to know why they insist on having you remove your laptops and other major electronic devices from your bags before scanning them? Read on and learn more.

Flying in the modern world can be a nuisance. The versatility of determined people who want to smuggle contraband, weapons, or bombs onto a flight is responsible for the many procedures any airport traveler must endure on the way to their flight. A typical business traveler might expect to have to remove his shoes for examination, remove his laptop from his bags for X-ray scanning, have his bags swabbed, and pass through a metal detector for the dubious privilege of purchasing ’secure’ drinks at the airport gate restaurant for exorbitant prices while waiting for his flight. However, every step of this thorough examination has a purpose, to limit the ways in which a terrorist threat or illegal cargo can board an airplane.

The traveler himself typically has to pass an inspection via metal detector. A standard FAA-approved metal detector such as the AUTOClear CheckGate 8000 is fairly straightforward - the person to be tested passes through the metal detector, and a loud tone is emitted if a metal object is detected on their person. To prevent inadvertent alarms from nearby objects, quality metal detectors usually are built to screen out electromagnetic and radio frequency noise (so the cell phone of the guy behind you who refuses to put it in the X-ray machine until the very last moment won’t get you in trouble) and calibrated to their environment (so as not to generate large amounts of false positives from poor design choices like placing the metal detector on a metal walkway.) They usually are also calibrated so that, for example, the metal in the zipper of your trousers won’t set it off, but the hula girl letter opener you forgot to take out of your jacket pocket will, by determining a given ’safe’ threshold that must be exceeded for the alarm to sound.

When more careful examination is required, TSA officials and other security personnel rely on hand wands - lightweight metal detectors that provide variable tones based on the amount of metal present. This allows security officers to quickly, efficiently, and noninvasively scan people for weapons without an intrusive physical search, and provides evidence to authorize a physical search if necessary.

Meanwhile, your carry-on luggage is subjected to X-ray scanning from a TSA-approved cargo screening X-ray scanner such as the AUTOClear 6040, which feeds luggage through on a conveyor while allowing security personnel to see the contents and determine the materials thereof. Modern scanners like the 6040 allow security personnel to see organic, inorganic, and composite materials in different colors (orange, blue, and green, for the AUTOClear line), with darker colors indicating greater density. This allows the machine operator to easily pinpoint potential bomb and weapon components, as well as narcotics and other smuggled goods, without requiring an invasive (and possibly dangerous) search of every bag by hand. This is why airport security requires that you remove laptops and other bulky electronics to be scanned separately, among other restrictions - to avoid false positives made when a set of innocuous contents resembles an explosive on the X-ray monitors. Since the TSA must take every potential threat seriously — after all, they will have to handle the explosive consequences firsthand — cutting down on these misidentifications ensures a safer environment for them and the public, and ensures less delays in travel.

While you may not directly see this in action (unless you regularly travel with large amounts of electronics), trace detectors such as the AUTOClear E5000 are also used on your checked luggage (and occasionally on yourself and your carry-on luggage) to detect possible traces of explosives and narcotic substances, either by analyzing them for a match to specific known compounds or by attempting to match them to the components commonly found in explosive substances. This commonly requires a simple surface test of the object to be scanned, and takes less than a minute to perform. As someone who has personally seen these tests in action from previous airport trips, I can assure you that they are non-invasive (usually a simple cotton swab over the surface area, or a close ’sniff’ by the nozzle of the device, is all that is necessary), and simply allow for a presumptive scan of an object or area in the same way that a drug-sniffing or bomb-sniffing dog’s perusal can give probable cause to more carefully inspect a suspicious item or person. Detecting the residue of military explosives on one’s shoes might simply mean they are a soldier on their way home from active duty, but it also might mean that someone’s been building bombs in their basement — probably not the person you want sitting next to you on a long flight.

The Transportation Security Administration uses X-ray scanners, trace detectors, and metal detectors to screen passengers and luggage to provide safety and security to passengers and flight crew with as little impact on speed as possible. New advancements in scanning technology mean faster processing at the airport terminal and safer flights for all concerned. The TSA has a difficult, dangerous, and often thankless job to do, and security scanners such as those manufactured by AUTOClear ensure they can do their job to the best of their capabilities.

Posted in Correctional, Police and Security, Articles | 1 Comment »