I like this a lot actually. Consider this my plus 1! Also, I know it's a prison game and therefore that's probably why no one has openly offered to make anyone weapons so you'd have to ICly encourage something like that to come about. Of course, if it's sanctioned by the DF, it's not entirely impossible and there are certainly no shortages of knives and shovels and other things like that in the game!
*cough*
But, yes. I think this will be a good way to even out the playing field for the DF and turn it more into a real Police Force dependent on characters to inform them of trouble rather then the warden's good will.