What Is a Prison Shank
A prison shank is an improvised weapon made by inmates, often from sharpened metal, plastic, or other materials found inside a facility. Correctional agencies define shanks as any homemade blade or pointed object not issued by staff.
How Shanks Are Used and the Risks They Create
Shanks are associated with assaults, threats, and contraband trade inside jails and prisons. They can cause serious injuries and complicate facility security, requiring increased staffing, searches, and medical response.
How Facilities Address the Threat
Prisons use detection tools, searches, and classification policies to reduce shank incidents. Staff training, surveillance, and inmate accountability programs are common components of security strategies.
For official data and reports on prison safety and weapons, see the Bureau of Justice Statistics at https://www.bjs.gov/index.htm.
