At my former prison they use the MARCS radio system. They are used by Corridor Officers, Recreation Officers, Metal Dector Officers and all Sgt’s and Supervisory staff. The radios are used to pass a variety of messages, signals and important information. They are also used as a means to summoning help in critical incidents ex: fights, stabbings, suicides, and other critical incidents. All staff carry a personal alarm. When activated, it sends an alarm to the main control center and the alarm is picked up by sensors and tells the control center where you are at and who you are.

I think generally most county jails and prisons have two-way radios to communicate and all officers have them either at the duty station or wear them on the duty belt. At our facility we use them for an entire shift for head counts, contacting the escort officers who escort inmates from the blocks or dorms, and for backup calls. In the state prisons they only use the radios for head counts and emergencies. State COs have a pull cord that automatically calls for backup by signal to the command center where they can see the location of the radio and send a CRT team. Also in the state prisons they use a telephone constantly for communication between staff, supervisors, etc.