It’s becoming a bigger and bigger challenge at correctional facilities across the state: Drugs, weapons and other forms of contraband are finding their way into jails and prisons at a higher rate than ever before.

Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar is taking a unique approach to fight the issue. Enter Marly, a golden lab, and the newest recruit at the Broome County Jail.

Along with his handler, Officer Brian Doyle, the two are hoping to address a growing issue in jails and prisons across the state.

But it all starts with building a bond.

"It's a lot of work so far. A lot of time spent together. He comes to work with me. We spend a lot of time going through facility, a lot of training. Minimal training right now, but still going through a lot,” said Doyle, a corrections officer at the Broome County Jail.

Items like envelopes with suboxone strips, pills and even fentanyl are now posing dangers to both inmates and corrections officers like Doyle. It’s becoming a problem that Akshar has made a top priority in addressing.

"Part of our mission here with respect to corrections is meeting people where they are, giving them the tools they need to be successful. And when somebody from the outside attempts to smuggle contraband into the facility, again, it can adversely impact their progress. That is something, of course, that we want to fight against," said Akshar.

Drug-sniffing dogs aren’t typically common in county jails, leaving Marly with a unique but important job. He’ll go everywhere from the visitation room to directly in the jail. And it was a special process to make sure they had the best dog for the job.

“We went to Southern Coast Canine in Florida and they have a rigorous selection process for how they get their dogs. And then we went through a selection process of our own with him. So, unfortunately, it's not a love-at-first-sight story, but he performed the best, and he was the best dog there," said Doyle.

Over the years, jails have continued to look for ways to fight the rise in contraband. Just a few months ago, a letter with traces of fentanyl made its way into the Oneida County Jail, exposing the officers who received it. They’ve since brought in this system, which aims to detect any unusual substance within the mail.

Whether it’s technology, or dogs like Marly, officers will continue to search for ways to keep everyone safe.

"He's going to be paramount to helping the safety facility for the incarcerated individuals and for the officers and the other civilian staff in the building, keeping the drugs out of the facility, making sure nobody gets hurt, any overdoses, anything like that is going to help keep it a safer building,” said Doyle.

Marly will continue his training over the next couple of months before working full-time within the jail.