Chicago correctional officer brought drug-soaked paper into prison, police say

A correctional officer has been accused of attempting to smuggle drug-laced paper into the Cook County Jail.

Investigators searched the home of Deputy Sheriff Shadonna Jones in Lynwood and found 48 sheets of paper suspected to be laced with drugs.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office said Jones was paid $1,000 to pick up the paper and deliver it to a man in the jail. Tests revealed the paper contained synthetic cannabinoids.

Jones was hired as a deputy in June 2019 and has been considered “injured in the line of duty” since July 15, 2024, after she was injured while attempting to intervene in a fight between two people in custody.

On July 25, she was relieved of her duties as a deputy after being questioned by investigators in connection with the drug case. The sheriff's office is conducting a separate internal investigation, and Jones could face disciplinary action, including termination, as a result of the investigation.

CBS News Chicago reported on a similar case in May 2023when a Cook County inmate and his girlfriend were arrested for attempting to bribe a police officer to smuggle paper. The sheriff's office said drug-laced paper is a growing problem that is leading to more searches at the post office.

Jones' next court date is scheduled for September 19.