Jails across the state have been forced to get creative in recent years to deal with a rise in contraband. Nearly a year ago, Broome County brought in a drug-sniffing dog to cut down on illegal activity.

An attractive golden lab is the face responsible for keeping contraband out of the Broome County Jail. Along with his partner, Corrections Investigator Brian Doyle, the two have made some serious strides over the past nine months.

"It's definitely a good mix. Makes work a lot more interesting, more rewarding to come to work and able to work with a dog on a regular basis. It's definitely a new experience, and it's fun to learn with him as we go along," Doyle said.

K9 Marley was brought into jail when staff began noticing a rise in drugs and other contraband making its way in, often through visitation. It didn’t take long for word to get out.

"It's nice to hear the chatter between the visitors and the incarcerated individuals, and they talk about the dog being out front. Whether they're openly admitting to not being able to bring things in, or just discussing it. So it's nice that everyone knows that he's here,” said Doyle.

A rise in drugs and contraband has been a growing battle for New York jails in recent years.

A letter with traces of fentanyl made its way into the Oneida County Jail last year. In Broome, a federally housed inmate was recently found with fentanyl, along with PCP and synthetic cannabinoids.

"It had gone unaddressed for a significant period of time, in which it was not a priority. And we have made it a priority," said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar.

But thanks to Marley, Akshar said illegal activity related to contraband has significantly decreased. The drug-sniffing K9 has made some of his own discoveries, and acted as a deterrent.

"Every effort that we can make to ensure that contraband is not being brought into the facility. We're going to do that. And one of the tools that we have is Brian and Marley. And as the sheriff, I just couldn't be happier,” said Akshar.

For Doyle, who’s worked eight years in the jail, it’s a good feeling knowing he and his new partner are making a difference.

"It's definitely a great feeling. It's nice to know that he's working, he's performing well and it's very rewarding to know that what he was trying to do he's actually doing. And he's doing a good job,” said Doyle.

A new state law could be changed in the coming months in regulating who can send mail to incarcerated New Yorkers. This, as drug and other contraband has made its way into jails and prisons through the mail.