Pubdate: Wed, 06 Apr 2011 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2011 Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Mindelle Jacobs OFFICIALS CAN'T STEM FLOW OF JAIL NARCOTICS Addiction, greed and the crude world of supply and demand behind bars make it impossible to stop the flow of all drugs into jails. For one thing, you're talking about a population that's already burdened with multiple problems. And the Edmonton Remand Centre (ERC) is undoubtedly a microcosm of prison life elsewhere. Four out of five offenders enter federal institutions with substance abuse problems, according to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). In addition, half of federal inmates committed their crimes under the influence of drugs, booze or other intoxicants. "Unfortunately, an offender's substance abuse problem will likely continue once they have entered an institution," the CSC commissioner told the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in 2009. Drug trafficking is a major contributor to institutional violence, he told the committee. MENTAL HEALTH Compounding the problem is the marked increase in the number of federal inmates with mental health difficulties. The percentage of male offenders with mental health issues has increased by more than 70% over the past decade. There are far more female inmates with mental health problems as well. So it's not surprising that some, if not many, of these troubled inmates would turn to drugs to feed their addiction or banish their demons. Where there's need, of course, supply can't be far behind. Many years ago, the CSC did a survey of 4,200 inmates in which 25% of the offenders reported that inmates were under a lot of pressure to smuggle drugs into their institutions. There's no reason to believe the same isn't true today. In fact, because there are more gangs now than there were 15 years ago, the pressure to bring in drugs and other contraband is probably worse. ERC inmates haven't been convicted of anything; they're waiting to go on trial. But let's not kid ourselves. They may be deemed innocent until proven guilty but that doesn't mean they're all upstanding citizens. The drugs that the police allegedly found in a jail guard's vehicle and home recently were seemingly destined for the ERC. (A 21-year-old guard, three inmates and two other people have been charged with trafficking-related offences.) There is no province-wide data on contraband smuggling into Alberta's jails and remand centres. But a provincial database system has been developed and will be implemented by the end of the month, according to the solicitor general's ministry. "Once the database is up and running, we will not be able to provide historical data ... but will be able to use this year as the benchmark," explains ministry spokesman Jason Maloney. The ERC piloted the system so the ministry does have some preliminary figures. Of the tens of thousands of searches in 2009, there were 85 cases where drugs were found, says Maloney. That included illicit trading of legitimate prescription drugs between offenders. "Some inmates may have prescription drugs they need for health reasons but then trade them to another offender and that offender is caught with those drugs," says Maloney. In the ERC, by the way, the visitation system is through glass, with a handset. And, aside from exceptional circumstances, only video visitation will be allowed with inmates in the new remand centre. Presumably, that feature, combined with the usual drug detection methods, such as drug-sniffer dogs, mail checks, body orifice scanners and unscheduled searches, will help reduce the flow of drugs. But human nature and raw need are powerful drivers. The more the authorities try to clamp down on contraband, the more creative smugglers become. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.