Pubdate: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 Source: Mercury, The (Australia) Copyright: 2008 Davies Brothers Ltd Contact: http://www.themercury.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/193 Author: Maria Rae Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) INMATES FAIL DRUG TESTS ONE in five drug tests carried out in Tasmanian prisons last year showed up positive. Of the 571 tests conducted during 2007, 126 showed inmates were on drugs. Director of Prisons Graeme Barber said testing was done on a regular basis and reported monthly. The inmates were either picked from a random computer list or targeted if they were suspected of taking drugs. Those caught face disciplinary action or sanctions but are also recommended for drug courses. But Mr Barber said drug testing was not a deterrent in itself. "A number of strategies need to be put into place to reduce the use and harm of illicit substances," he said. The Law Society of Tasmania's criminal committee head Kim Baumeler said the figure was lower than she would have expected. "The perception is there is a large problem with drug use in the prison," she said. "These results show it might not be as big as we're led to believe." Since the prison redevelopment she said that screening procedures for visitors had become even more rigorous, including a sniffer dog. But in the past couple of years she has represented clients who have tried to smuggle drugs in. Prison Action Reform legal adviser Greg Barns said the figures were a reflection that inmates were suffering. "While we continue to imprison people in uncivilised conditions people will continue to alleviate the pain by taking drugs," he said. "The boot is on the Government's foot to fix it." He said it also showed a lack of adequate drug rehabilitation programs. Of the 441 negative results there were 37 excluded for either testing too soon after inmates were jailed, samples becoming accidentally compromised or inmates being on approved medication. There were also four refusals, which are counted as positive results. Mr Barber would not comment on how inmates were tested or how the drugs got into the prison. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D