Investigation finds guards who smuggle rarely face harsh punishment - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - NewsChannel 11 first told you about the Post prison guard busted for smuggling drugs into the Giles Walby Unit in February.  This week, 21-year-old Gregory Norman pleaded not guilty in federal court.

Now, an investigation by the Houston Chronicle reveals guards who've smuggled prohibited goods into prison rarely face harsh punishment. The investigation shows between 2003 and 2008 authorities caught around 300 employees at 20 different prisons with illegal items.

About 75% of the 263 employees were put on probation. 35 were fired, and 26 received no punishment. Only one was criminally prosecuted for the crime, but did not serve prison time. The newspaper analysis found smokeless tobacco to be the most popular contraband linked to correctional employees, followed by cell phones and alcohol.

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