Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2009 The Dominion Post Contact: http://www.dompost.co.nz Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n597/a03.html Author: Barry Matthews NO JAIL VISITOR IS EXEMPT I take issue with Murray Hunter's comments and your earlier article. It is unwise to take the word of anonymous sources, especially when their assertions are incorrect. No-one entering a prison is exempt from search. The minister through to the youngest visitor can be searched. Every staff member and prison visitor is subject to a criminal conviction check. Staff must bring their possessions into prisons in plastic bags so that they can be searched easily. We work constantly to keep contraband out of prisons and have had great success in seizing contraband, including drugs, and having would-be smugglers apprehended. Furthermore, our random drug tests are at their lowest rates since testing began in 1998; they're now at 10.5 per cent nationally. The department certainly doesn't condone the actions of anyone who profits from illegal drugs. It disappoints me greatly that one of my staff was arrested for this sort of activity. This is why we worked with police to successfully arrest the perpetrators. The actions of one person should not detract from the hard work, dedication and professionalism shown by staff at Rimutaka Prison and across the country. Barry Matthews Chief executive, Corrections Department - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake