Comments on: Are most prison-escape sirens (at least in the US) electronic (with speakers) or mechanical (with an impeller)? http://www.circuitelectronics.info/simple-electronic-circuits/are-most-prison-escape-sirens-at-least-in-the-us-electronic-with-speakers-or-mechanical-with-an-impeller/ Electronic Circuit Design, Repair, Software, Components & Theory Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Nightrider http://www.circuitelectronics.info/simple-electronic-circuits/are-most-prison-escape-sirens-at-least-in-the-us-electronic-with-speakers-or-mechanical-with-an-impeller/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Nightrider Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:23:10 +0000 http://www.circuitelectronics.info/?p=268#comment-618 I work in the Ohio system and I can only answer for this one state, but everything we have is electronic ( no impeller type). When you watch a movie, a great many items are included for the plot line to make it interesting or add drama. We do NOT have a siren system to warn everyone that something is wrong. We have radios and telephones with a PA system that is completely self contained within the wire. I am not going to go into details only because I am not sure if it might violate policy to discuss security issues, but we have 6 counts per day. There is absolutely no movement during a count cycle until it has cleared. There are NO sirens blaring, no announcements over the PA system and no one running around like a chicken with it's head cut as seen in the movies. Counts are retaken until we determine what area has the problem, where it lies and find the problem itself. I am greatly over simplifying this with quite a few other details going into the process, but this is what we do for a living and we have it down to a science. Are there escapes and attempted escapes? Most definitely. As I tell new Officers, "They have 24 hours a day to think of things to do and we have 8 hours a day to catch them at it". Inmates will sit and watch every single movement made. They will time events and try to see if anyone has a set routine ( which we are trained to vary for this specific reason). If they see an area that they feel they can utilize for themselves, they will make an attempt. This is why we shake down cells, property, common areas and inmates themselves. Quite a bit is found long before it can come down to an attempted escape. But in answer to your specific question, the old days of the wind up impeller siren going off are long gone. But it does look great in the old movies. Best of luck and I hope this is useful to you I work in the Ohio system and I can only answer for this one state, but everything we have is electronic ( no impeller type).

When you watch a movie, a great many items are included for the plot line to make it interesting or add drama. We do NOT have a siren system to warn everyone that something is wrong. We have radios and telephones with a PA system that is completely self contained within the wire.

I am not going to go into details only because I am not sure if it might violate policy to discuss security issues, but we have 6 counts per day. There is absolutely no movement during a count cycle until it has cleared. There are NO sirens blaring, no announcements over the PA system and no one running around like a chicken with it's head cut as seen in the movies. Counts are retaken until we determine what area has the problem, where it lies and find the problem itself. I am greatly over simplifying this with quite a few other details going into the process, but this is what we do for a living and we have it down to a science.

Are there escapes and attempted escapes? Most definitely. As I tell new Officers, "They have 24 hours a day to think of things to do and we have 8 hours a day to catch them at it". Inmates will sit and watch every single movement made. They will time events and try to see if anyone has a set routine ( which we are trained to vary for this specific reason). If they see an area that they feel they can utilize for themselves, they will make an attempt. This is why we shake down cells, property, common areas and inmates themselves. Quite a bit is found long before it can come down to an attempted escape.

But in answer to your specific question, the old days of the wind up impeller siren going off are long gone. But it does look great in the old movies.

Best of luck and I hope this is useful to you

]]> By: confuzzed http://www.circuitelectronics.info/simple-electronic-circuits/are-most-prison-escape-sirens-at-least-in-the-us-electronic-with-speakers-or-mechanical-with-an-impeller/comment-page-1/#comment-619 confuzzed Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:23:10 +0000 http://www.circuitelectronics.info/?p=268#comment-619 Most are mechanical....reason being there are devices now adays that can knock out all electronic systems so most if not all facilities mainly rely on mechanical or a combination of the 2 It's not because of the prisioners, If a terrorist wanted to create havoc they could set them off and there would be caos. The governments and some terrorist organizations use the devices. It's just uncommon. But it's like anything else if you don't plan against it, it leaves a weak spot and people will capitalize on it I should add it's an actual device that does this, it will stop all electronics in a certain perimeter from going off, they sometimes use this while mining so nothing accidentally detonates the bombs other than what they intend on using Most are mechanical….reason being there are devices now adays that can knock out all electronic systems so most if not all facilities mainly rely on mechanical or a combination of the 2

It's not because of the prisioners, If a terrorist wanted to create havoc they could set them off and there would be caos. The governments and some terrorist organizations use the devices. It's just uncommon. But it's like anything else if you don't plan against it, it leaves a weak spot and people will capitalize on it

I should add it's an actual device that does this, it will stop all electronics in a certain perimeter from going off, they sometimes use this while mining so nothing accidentally detonates the bombs other than what they intend on using

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