Pubdate: Tue, 08 Apr 2014
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.
Author: Don Thompson, Associated Press

PRISON DRUG WOES ADDRESSED

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Nearly a quarter of inmates tested in a screening 
last year in California had used one or more illegal substances, 
leading state prison officials to propose increasing penalties for 
drug and alcohol use.

Under the recommendation, a first positive test for drug use would 
cost inmates 90 days' pay from work assignments, and repeat offenses 
could mean up to a year of lost wages.

However, inmates are paid only pennies an hour, prompting an official 
with the guards' union to question the proposed regulations on Monday.

While making its proposal, the California Department of Corrections 
and Rehabilitation said there were more than 4,000 drug-related 
prison incidents last year. More stringent penalties for drug use 
would increase prison safety and help inmates complete substance 
abuse treatment programs, the agency said.

"We recognize a problem with the use of drugs in our population, and 
the culture that it creates, and we must act to prevent the 
introduction of narcotics while providing treatment to those who are 
addicted," department spokeswoman Kristina Khokhobashvili said in an email.

Nearly 23 percent of inmates tested positive for one or more illegal 
drugs during the screening in June of a quarter of the inmate 
population, the department said. The figure could be even higher 
since about 30 percent of the selected inmates refused to be tested, 
even though they were promised that no one would be punished for 
testing positive.

More than half the positive tests involved marijuana, 20 percent 
indicated morphine use; 14 percent methamphetamines; 11 percent 
amphetamines; and 2 percent cocaine.

Separate statistics show 320 prison visitors and 10 employees were 
arrested last year while trying to smuggle in drugs. Another 52 
people were arrested for trying to bring drugs on to prison grounds 
when they had no reason to be there.

Illegal drugs in prison reinforces the strength of prison gangs, 
leads to inmate-on-inmate violence due to drug dependency, and 
increases the possibility of inmate-on-staff attacks because drugs 
can reduce inhibitions, the department said in urging the rule change.
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