Drone activity over prisons has shifted in recent years. Previously such activity was sporadic, it is now one of the most persistent security concerns faced by correctional institutions.
What was once an occasional incident is now, in many cases, a routine occurrence. In the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Prisons reported 479 drone incidents at federal prisons in 2024, up from just 23 incidents in 2018.
Despite increased investment in security measures, which include physical barriers and dedicated counter-drone technologies, the problem continues to scale. The explanation for this stems from a combination of incentives, structural limitations, uneven capabilities and an adversary that has adapted quickly to exploit them.
