Yes, it is true.  The New Jersey Department of Corrections has brought in cellular telephone sniffing dogs to patrol the state’s prisons.  Evidently, prisoners have been smuggling cell phones into jails and using them to conduct, in some cases, their illegal business.

Defense lawyers are accustom to hearing “we are going to bring the dogs…” approach taken by police officers. Indeed, it seems like this threat is a component in half of the automobile search cases our law firm handles.  While a stopped motorist need not give these threats any coercive effect, the situation is almost a moot point for a prisoner.  There will not be a threat but simply the appearance of the dog.