last thing on the minds of these officers. what they uncover can be the difference between life and death. >> it's an old joint. you can hide stuff anywhere, like at the i-beams, i'm going to check these, it's just a beam, you walk under it every day, but somebody's walking to the chow hall and a lot of guys know where it is but they're not going to tell because they don't want to get killed. they don't want to get hurt for ratting. >> a short time later officer hamilton and his partner, officer mcgee, make a hit. >> i found two razors that were removed, the blades removed from the disposable razor and these can be melted into a toothbrush handle, used as slashing instruments because those are solid, very sharp razors right there. and it looks like my partner's found another one. >> inmates who make the weapons often claim they're only for self-defense, but actions usually bear a different reality.