STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. – In late November 2024, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of one Tek84 Intercept body scanner for use within the Stephens County Jail.

The new technology was procured using money from the opioid response fund in an effort to stop the impact of illegal drugs in the jail before they ever come through the door.

The new Tek84 Intercept body scanner was delivered to the Stephens County Jail in January 2025.

During the past two months, our jail staff has been working with the brand to properly install the machine and train our jail officers in using it to detect incoming contraband.

With the Tek84 body scanner, our jail staff can detect both metallie and nonmetallic threats like weapons, drugs, cell phones, and more.

The machine is complete with a wall-mounted touchscreen monitor, photo-matching, and an ICI thermal scanner to detect health concerns.

These features help jail officers observe any inconsistencies that could reflect illegal contraband or signs of medical issues.

During the week of March 24-28, our jail staff began utilizing the technology on all inmates that are booked into the Stephens County Jail.

Within the first week of use, jail officers discovered more than half an ounce of suspected methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana located inside a female arrested by another agency. Due to the drugs being located in an area that is difficult to search on the side of the road, this x-ray technology allowed officers to quickly find and confiscate the hidden drugs before the female was booked into the jail.

“Fighting the drug epidemic is a top priority for the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. “By using this cutting-edge technology, we can hopefully intercept dangerous drugs and other contraband before they reach our inmates and stop the dangerous flow of illegal substances within our facility. This is just one of the many steps we are taking to curb the drug crisis in our community and ensure that our detention center remains safe and secure for everyone.”