Dogs trained to find illegal drugs will soon be patrolling New Hampshire prisons.
The Executive Council has approved $74,000 for the state Department of Corrections to create a canine unit. The department will buy two dogs trained to detect controlled drugs as well as cellphones. The dogs will be deployed to search inmate housing as well as the mail and visiting rooms.
The department has been searching for new ways to stop the flow of illegal drugs into prisons. New Hampshire operates men's prisons in Berlin and Concord and a women's prison in Goffstown.
The Legislature approved a bill earlier this year to put full body scanners in the prisons.
