Florida Correctional Officer Safety Practice Test

Which item is NOT considered nuisance contraband?

1. Excessive hygiene items

2. Shanks

3. Excessive letters and photos

4. Excessive linen

The correct answer is: Shanks

The correct response identifies that shanks are not considered nuisance contraband because they are classified as serious contraband. Nuisance contraband typically refers to items that do not pose an immediate threat or danger but may disrupt the orderly operation of a correctional facility. The other options—excessive hygiene items, excessive letters and photos, and excessive linen—fall into the category of nuisance contraband as they do not inherently create safety risks. They may be disruptive to facility management or lead to complications in maintaining order, but they do not represent the same level of immediate danger that shanks, which can be used as weapons, do. Therefore, shanks are categorized as a serious concern for the safety and security of both staff and inmates, underscoring why they do not belong in the nuisance contraband category.