CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Thermal Radar™ for Correctional Facility Perimeter Security
Correctional facilities require a level of perimeter security that few other environments demand.
Whether securing prisons, detention centers, correctional institutions, juvenile facilities, work-release centers, or private detention campuses, security personnel must continuously monitor large outdoor environments while maintaining awareness of activity occurring both at and beyond the perimeter.
Traditional visible-light cameras often struggle in darkness, shadows, glare, and other challenging outdoor conditions. Traditional thermal cameras improve nighttime detection but typically monitor only fixed fields of view, requiring large numbers of cameras to protect expansive correctional properties.
Thermal Radar™ was designed specifically to solve this challenge.
Using a patented rotating thermal imaging architecture, Thermal Radar™ provides continuous 360° thermal perimeter monitoring from a single device, enabling correctional facilities to detect people, vehicles, and developing threats across large outdoor areas while reducing the infrastructure associated with conventional camera deployments.
The result is a powerful combination of perimeter protection, wide-area security, continuous perimeter surveillance, and early threat detection that helps correctional facilities strengthen security operations while improving operational efficiency.
Patented 360° Thermal Surveillance for Correctional Facilities
Most correctional facilities rely on multiple layers of fencing, barriers, patrol roads, and surveillance systems to protect inmates, staff, visitors, and critical infrastructure.
The challenge is that traditional security cameras only monitor a limited area at any given time. A visible-light camera sees only where it is pointed. A traditional thermal camera sees only the fixed field of view covered by its lens.
To monitor an entire correctional perimeter, organizations often deploy numerous cameras around the facility, increasing infrastructure costs, network requirements, maintenance obligations, and operational complexity.
Thermal Radar™ takes a fundamentally different approach.
Its patented rotating thermal architecture continuously monitors 360° around the protected area, allowing a single Thermal Radar™ unit to provide wide-area situational awareness that would traditionally require numerous fixed cameras.
For correctional facilities, this means:
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Continuous 360° thermal perimeter monitoring
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Reduced camera counts
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Fewer poles and mounting locations
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Reduced trenching and infrastructure costs
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Lower maintenance requirements
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Improved operational awareness
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Greater coverage of large correctional campuses
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Enhanced perimeter protection with fewer devices
This patented architecture is one of the reasons Thermal Radar™ has become a powerful solution for organizations seeking more effective wide-area security.
Detect Threats Before They Reach the Perimeter
Many perimeter security systems focus primarily on activity occurring directly at the fence line.
However, correctional security personnel often need awareness long before a threat reaches the perimeter.
Potential security concerns may include:
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Escape attempts
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Unauthorized access
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Contraband deliveries
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Vehicle-based threats
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Coordinated perimeter breaches
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Unauthorized activity near facility boundaries
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Suspicious movement around remote perimeter areas
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Drone support activities associated with contraband operations
Thermal Radar™ enables correctional facilities to monitor from the inside out.
Rather than focusing solely on the fence itself, Thermal Radar™ continuously surveys the surrounding environment to identify activity occurring outside, at, and inside the perimeter.
This broader detection capability provides valuable additional response time and supports a more proactive perimeter security strategy.
Thermal Imaging Radar Works Day and Night
Correctional facilities never close.
Perimeter security requirements remain constant regardless of lighting conditions.
Traditional visible-light cameras often depend on lighting infrastructure, which can introduce challenges associated with shadows, glare, bright lights, changing weather conditions, and low-light environments.
Thermal Radar™ detects heat signatures rather than relying on visible light.
Because of this, Thermal Radar™ can support continuous perimeter surveillance during:
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Daytime operations
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Nighttime operations
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Dawn and dusk transitions
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Low-light environments
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Remote perimeter locations
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Areas with inconsistent lighting
This thermal imaging capability helps correctional facilities maintain consistent situational awareness around the clock.
Simultaneous Intrusion Detection and Early Fire Detection
Correctional facilities face more than perimeter intrusion risks.
Many campuses contain maintenance buildings, vehicle fleets, utility infrastructure, storage facilities, workshops, equipment yards, and other areas where developing fire events can create significant operational disruptions.
Traditional thermal camera systems are commonly deployed for either security monitoring or fire monitoring.
Thermal Radar™ is capable of doing both simultaneously.
Using fireSENSE™, Thermal Radar™ can continuously monitor for:
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Perimeter intrusions
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Unauthorized access
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Suspicious activity
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Thermal anomalies
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Developing fire events
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Escalating heat signatures
This allows correctional facilities to leverage a single thermal surveillance platform for both perimeter security and early fire detection.
The ability to detect developing fire events while simultaneously maintaining continuous perimeter surveillance provides a unique operational advantage that traditional visible-light cameras and traditional thermal cameras typically cannot offer.
Hydra™: Detection and Automated Verification
Early threat detection is even more valuable if security personnel can quickly assess what has been detected.
Thermal Radar™ can operate as a highly effective standalone thermal perimeter monitoring solution.
For organizations seeking enhanced verification capabilities, Thermal Radar™ can also integrate with PTZ cameras through Hydra™.
Hydra™ automatically directs PTZ cameras toward qualified thermal detections, helping operators rapidly assess activity and make informed response decisions.
This combination provides:
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Thermal detection
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Automated camera cueing
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Faster target assessment
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Enhanced situational awareness
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Improved operator efficiency
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Better use of existing security infrastructure
The result is a more effective transition from detection to verification and response.
Mobile Security for Temporary Correctional Operations
Correctional facilities frequently encounter situations where temporary perimeter security coverage is needed.
Examples include:
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Facility expansion projects
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New construction
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Temporary housing areas
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Emergency operations
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Infrastructure upgrades
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Incident response operations
Thermal Radar™ can be deployed through Mobile Sentry™ and Tower Sentry™ platforms, allowing correctional organizations to rapidly establish thermal perimeter monitoring without constructing permanent infrastructure.
This flexibility allows security teams to extend perimeter protection wherever operational requirements change.
Reduce Security Infrastructure While Expanding Coverage
Large correctional campuses often require significant investments in surveillance infrastructure.
Traditional deployments frequently involve:
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Numerous visible-light cameras
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Multiple thermal cameras
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Additional poles and mounts
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Extensive trenching
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Long network runs
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Additional power requirements
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Increased maintenance obligations
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Increased annual licensing
Because Thermal Radar™ continuously monitors 360° from a single device, facilities can often reduce the number of deployed devices required to achieve effective perimeter coverage.
This can help reduce:
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Installation costs
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Infrastructure complexity
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Maintenance requirements
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Network loads
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Long-term operational expenses
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Annual licensing costs
While simultaneously improving perimeter awareness and threat detection capabilities.
Why Correctional Facilities Choose Thermal Radar™
Correctional facilities require more than simple video surveillance.
They require continuous perimeter surveillance, early threat detection, wide-area security coverage, rapid threat assessment, and dependable operation around the clock.
Thermal Radar™ delivers these capabilities through patented 360° thermal monitoring, inside-out perimeter detection, simultaneous intrusion and developing fire event detection, Hydra™ automated verification, Mobile Sentry™ rapid deployment systems, Tower Sentry™ elevated surveillance platforms, and fireSENSE™ early fire detection technology.
For correctional facilities seeking to strengthen perimeter protection while reducing infrastructure complexity, Thermal Radar™ provides a uniquely powerful approach to modern correctional perimeter security.
Our Value Proposition
Thermal Radar provides up to FIFTEEN fields of view from one camera which reduces the number of cameras needed at a facility. This generates significant savings and greatly mitigates infrastructure costs.
One Thermal Radar
One Thermal Radar replaces up to fifteen traditional security cameras, saving thousands of dollars while covering a much larger area. Up to 15x the coverage with fewer points of failure.
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Installation Costs
Installation costs for traditional systems (including cable trenching) can cost thousands of dollars per site. The installation of a single Thermal Radar unit is a fraction of those costs. ($XX,XXX compared to $XXX,XXX)
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VMS Costs
Video Management costs are significantly reduced by the number of licenses needed to manage your system. Specifically, one Thermal Radar unit with 15 fields of view requires one VMS license, rather than 15 licenses for the same views using individual cameras.
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Maintenance Costs
Annual costs related to hardware maintenance and VMS software upgrades also require consideration for security installations. Replacing upwards of 15 individual cameras with one Thermal Radar will significantly reduce this yearly budgetary item.
End-User Savings
Over 70%
Frequently Asked Questions About Correctional Facility Perimeter Security
Why is Thermal Radar™ well suited for correctional facility perimeter security?
Thermal Radar™ was designed for wide-area perimeter security applications where continuous situational awareness is critical. Its patented rotating thermal architecture provides continuous 360° thermal monitoring around correctional facilities, helping security personnel detect escape attempts, perimeter breaches, unauthorized access, contraband delivery activity, and vehicle movement earlier than traditional surveillance approaches.
How is Thermal Radar™ different from traditional correctional facility cameras?
Traditional visible-light cameras only monitor where they are pointed and often rely on adequate lighting conditions. Traditional thermal cameras provide thermal detection but typically monitor fixed fields of view. Thermal Radar™ continuously monitors 360° around the protected area, allowing a single system to provide wide-area thermal perimeter monitoring that would traditionally require numerous cameras.
Can Thermal Radar™ detect escape attempts before an inmate reaches the fence?
Yes. Thermal Radar™ supports inside-out perimeter monitoring, allowing correctional facilities to observe activity occurring outside, at, and inside the perimeter. This broader awareness can help identify suspicious movement earlier and provide additional response time before a threat reaches critical security boundaries.
Can Thermal Radar™ help detect contraband delivery activity?
Yes. Contraband deliveries often involve individuals or vehicles approaching remote perimeter areas before attempting a transfer. Thermal Radar™ continuously monitors the surrounding environment and can help identify suspicious activity around facility boundaries before contraband reaches the secured perimeter.
Can Thermal Radar™ detect both intrusions and developing fire events?
Yes. Through fireSENSE™, Thermal Radar™ can simultaneously monitor for perimeter intrusions and developing fire events using the same thermal surveillance platform. This allows correctional facilities to improve both perimeter security and facility safety without deploying separate systems.
What is Hydra™ and how does it support correctional security operations?
Hydra™ integrates Thermal Radar™ with PTZ cameras. When Thermal Radar™ identifies a qualified detection, Hydra™ can automatically direct PTZ cameras toward the area of interest, helping operators quickly verify activity and make faster response decisions.
Can Thermal Radar™ be deployed temporarily?
Yes. Thermal Radar™ can be deployed on Mobile Sentry™ trailers and Tower Sentry™ platforms for temporary perimeter protection, facility expansion projects, emergency response operations, construction activities, and other situations requiring rapid deployment.
Does Thermal Radar™ require extensive perimeter infrastructure?
In many deployments, Thermal Radar™ can reduce the number of cameras, poles, trenching projects, network connections, and maintenance points required to secure large correctional properties. This can simplify deployment while improving wide-area situational awareness.
Can Thermal Radar™ integrate with existing correctional security systems?
Yes. Thermal Radar™ can operate as a standalone thermal perimeter monitoring solution or integrate with existing PTZ cameras, video management systems, and broader security infrastructures to enhance detection, verification, and response workflows.
What types of correctional facilities use Thermal Radar™?
Thermal Radar™ is well suited for prisons, detention centers, correctional institutions, juvenile facilities, private detention campuses, work-release facilities, and other secure environments that require continuous perimeter surveillance, thermal perimeter monitoring, early threat detection, and wide-area security coverage.
