What defines promoting contraband in the first degree?

Promoting contraband in the first degree specifically involves actions that threaten the safety and security of a detention facility by introducing prohibited items. Providing a deadly weapon that may assist in escape falls under this definition because it directly impacts the potential for harm and the overall security of the facility. This act not only poses a danger to the individuals within the facility but also undermines the integrity of the correctional system.

In contrast, while possessing unauthorized currency or making unlawful financial transactions could be serious offenses, they do not carry the same immediate potential for violence or risk to the order of a detention facility as introducing a deadly weapon. Similarly, while introducing dangerous drugs to an inmate is serious, it may not directly relate to facilitating an escape. The focus on escape-related items, like deadly weapons, elevates the severity of the offense to first-degree contraband.