Encrypted Corrections Agencies
11 corrections agencies across the United States are documented as encrypting their radio communications, blocking public access to critical safety information. Our database holds 11 records of this type; the rest are ones our own checks found in the clear.
About Corrections Agencies
Prisons, jails, and detention facilities at county, state, and federal levels.
Impact of Encryption
Corrections encryption can hide incidents inside facilities, preventing oversight of conditions and treatment of incarcerated individuals.
Affected Stakeholders
- Prison reform advocates
- Families of incarcerated
- Legal aid organizations
States with Most Encrypted Corrections Agencies
All Encrypted Corrections Agencies
Browse all 11 corrections agencies records. Open an agency for its verification status; records our checks found in the clear say so on their own page.
| Agency | State | County | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gratiot County Jail | MI | Gratiot | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Ocean County Corrections | NJ | Ocean | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Orange County Jail | FL | Orange | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Illinois Department of Corrections | IL | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Dekalb County Corrections | IL | Dekalb | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Brown County Jail | OH | Brown | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Hendricks County Jail | IN | Hendricks | Algorithm not published | Dispatch Only |
| Vigo County Jail | IN | Vigo | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Louisville Corrections/Jail | KY | Jefferson | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Nebraska Department of Corrections | NE | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Department of Corrections | DE | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many corrections agencies have encrypted their radios?
11 corrections agencies are documented as encrypted: 4 fully encrypted and 7 with partial encryption.
Which state has the most encrypted corrections agencies?
Illinois leads with 2 corrections agencies records, out of 11 tracked nationwide.
What encryption technology do most corrections agencies use?
For most of the 11 corrections agencies records here, no source we have checked names the algorithm: RadioReference marks a talkgroup as encrypted without naming the cipher. 0 have a published source naming it.
Why does encrypting corrections agency radio matter?
Corrections encryption can hide incidents inside facilities, preventing oversight of conditions and treatment of incarcerated individuals. Stakeholders most affected include prison reform advocates, families of incarcerated, legal aid organizations.
What can I do if my local corrections agency is encrypted?
Encryption is a policy choice made by department or elected leadership, not a technical requirement — it can be revisited. File a public-records request for the encryption decision, raise it at a city council or county commission meeting, and connect with others who rely on scanner access in your area.
Take Action for Transparency
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Contact Your Representatives
Use our templates to email your local officials about police radio encryption policies.
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