Pubdate: Thu, 23 Sep 2004
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Cheryl Wierda

ALLEGATIONS OF DRUG ACTIVITY BY PRISON OFFICER

An officer at Mission Institution was suspended earlier this year
after "repeated allegations of drug involvement and unauthorized
activities within the Institution," an investigative report obtained
by the Abbotsford News indicates.

The unidentified officer was suspended in February, and it appears he
did not comply with the Correctional Service of Canada investigation,
as did two unidentified inmates.

In February 2003, the unidentified officer and another staff member
were confronted by prison management about information alleging they
were introducing drugs into the institution, and were counseled to
ensure they followed property policy and procedure. Prison officials
decided no further investigation was warranted as the allegations
originated from a single source.

In the summer of 2003, a staff member noticed that an elder entered
the institution carrying a large blue tarp. Although the tarp could
have been folded to fit in the X-Ray machine, the elder refused, yet
was allowed to carry it into the institution. Soon after, an issue
arose regarding the use of the institutional drug dog to facilitate
searches on the sweat lodge grounds. A person, whose name was blacked
out from the report obtained by the News, was opposed, citing the move
is against his teachings.

By December, 2003, an assistant warden learned that drugs were being
introduced to the prison through the Native Brotherhood at the
institution.

After a series of events that led to the segregation of a number of
undisclosed inmates, a search was undertaken in February at the sweat
lodge area, where a variety of tools, modified utility blades and
metal stakes were found. In the native brotherhood room, a variety of
food was located.

Two weeks later, a staff member found a white pen barrel with
suspected drug residue.

"Much of the inappropriate behaviour that occurred is impossible to
reference with a specific date, time and place due to the lack of
cooperation from potentially significant witnesses and the great span
of time covered by the information leading up to this investigation,"
the report's author writes.

The investigation revealed problems with blanket approvals which
allowed people to bring "traditional foods, meat and fish, berries,
bannock, Tim Horton's cake, pastries" into the institution on
Wednesdays and Thursdays for "sweats and healing circles."

A standing order "does not dictate that foods brought in for
ceremonial purposes shall not leave the ceremony, nor does it address
the issue of searching the sweat lodge (sic) offices."

A CSC spokeswoman said this week there has been a "vigorous" review
into all standing orders, and there is an on-going review of food
practises as it relates to inmate purchase, receipt and
preparation.

"This review is not isolated to the Aboriginal group," she
said.

The report's author also noted the use of the drug dog to search the
sweat lodge proved to be "very contentious, as allowing a dog onto the
sweat grounds was incongruent with (blank) teachings."

Reports indicate correctional officers and other staff members were
uncertain regarding aboriginal traditions, and this lack of knowledge
"may have contributed to the ability of certain members of the NBH
(Native Brotherhood) to circumvent rules."

A drug detector is currently being used for searches in the presence
of a spiritual advisor, a CSC spokeswoman said, and management are
refocusing their efforts to ensure all areas and persons in the prison
are subject to search.

Awareness sessions will be conducted with staff, who are currently
being updated through communiques and daily security briefings.
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MAP posted-by: Derek