Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jun 2006
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Kathleen Harris, Ottawa Bureau		
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

CRIME THRIVES IN PRISON

Weapons, Drugs Abound And Guards Have Limited Powers To Stop Them: Documents

OTTAWA -- Federal prisons are brimming with lethal weapons, hard 
drugs and homemade booze, but Corrections Canada brass is promising 
to step up efforts to curb the contraband.

Documents obtained by Sun Media through access to information reveal 
inmates have their hands on everything from crack cocaine and heroin 
to explosives, hacksaws, pornography and classified government material.

In reference to explosives and handcuff keys, a notice from the 
Correctional Service of Canada accompanying the list explained that 
the "vast majority of those items were found in common areas and were 
of no concern." Further, it noted that none of the contraband items 
were found in possession of "high profile" prisoners.

Legally Limited

Sylvain Martel, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional 
Officers, said tension and danger are growing with the rise in drugs 
and weapons in Canada's penitentiaries. Despite the "dramatic" 
increase of dangerous weapons stemming from escalating gang activity 
behind bars, officers are bound by legal limits on search and 
seizure, and often offenders aren't charged for drug possession, he said.

"That is a nightmare for us," Martel said. "CSC should review its 
policies on this. It seems like we need a search warrant to search a 
cell in the institution."

CSC spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli said contraband is often seized 
at the door by security, but it's difficult to detect because 
thousands of visitors, volunteers and contractors pass through each 
day. Inmates also devise innovative ways to get drugs on site, from 
hiding them in body cavities to stuffing them inside tennis balls or 
dead birds tossed over the fence.

Pilon-Santilli said CSC is exploring improved technology to detect 
contraband and is encouraging inmates to take part in education, drug 
rehabilitation and harm reduction programs.

Conservative MP Myron Thompson said "hoodlums" have been running the 
show instead of the authorities for too long. He said there must be 
an immediate crackdown to rid the prisons of drugs and weapons.

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Naughty Things Behind Bars

Some items seized in Canadian prisons in the last two years:

- - Hash

- - Marijuana

- - Crack cocaine

- - Ecstasy

- - Alcohol

- - Explosives

- - Zip gun

- - Homemade shanks, knives and other weapons

- - Cellphone

- - Classified material

- - Government property

- - Hacksaw

- - Handcuff key

- - Pornographic material

- - Roach clip

- - Drug syringe

Source: Correctional Service of Canada
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman