Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2016
Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.medicinehatnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833
Page: 19

ALBERTA'S PRISONS SHOULD FACE UP TO GROWING DRUG PROBLEMS

There appears to be a growing problem with drugs in both federal and
provincial jails in Alberta with more emphasis on keeping information
about this issue out of the public realm then keeping the narcotics
from getting into the gaol.

The latest death at the city remand centre earlier this year is an
example of just how far authorities are willing to go when it comes to
a clampdown on information pertaining to in-custody fatalities.

No name was released or solid information about cause of death was
provided, with provincial officials claiming privacy interests.

But it's becoming abundantly clear it's the province's privacy
interests that are being protected, not the individual's.

There is no shortage of in-custody fatalities that have reported the
names of the individuals.

One in particular stands out.

Derek Brain Upton was convicted as an adult of the brutal 1992
first-degree murder of Darlene Korolak when he was 15 years old.

He died of a suspected drug overdose nearly 20 years later on
Christmas Eve 2011 at the federally-run Drumheller Institute.

A number of sources say the teen did little than dabble in soft drugs
prior to his incarceration.

But according to Parole Board of Canada documents, Upton became a
methamphetamine addict during his incarceration.

In the recent Medicine Hat trial of Joey McConnell in connection to a
2015 home invasion, the man repeatedly told police - according to
police testimony as well as the man's video-taped statement to
investigators - that methamphetamine is easier to get in jail than on
the street.

An even more recent trial involving allegations Jason Tremblay was
trafficking fentanyl in Medicine Hat heard testimony from the man that
he relapsed into addiction to prescription painkillers while
incarcerated at Drumheller.

In June 2013, two corrections officers at Medicine Hat Remand were
charged with allegations of smuggling cocaine, pot and tobacco into
the city jail.

One eventually pleaded guilty to a single count of
bribery.

Again, privacy factored into the government's explanation of this
occurrence.

Alberta Justice spokesperson at the time, Wendy McGrath, told The News
the corrections officer was dismissed from his job but "as this is a
human resource matter, there are privacy protocols that preclude
specific comments on individual incidents."

While McGrath called such incidents rare, it didn't appear to be as
singular an occurrence as the circumstances revolving around the
second city corrections officer, who despite being observed by city
police receiving both drugs and cash from a woman who was convicted of
trafficking those same drugs, was convicted of simple possession of
pot.

To be fair, there is no shortage of those going into the prison system
bringing in contraband in places the sun doesn't shine and
incarcerated individuals don't get much sympathy.

In many cases they shouldn't.

But what chance can Albertans possibly have of dealing with the drug
scourge on the streets if they can't deal with it in the jails?

As the hangover from the latest Alberta oil boom takes hold and the
thousands of individuals who became drug addicts with the help of
their neighbourhood doctor/dealer no longer have the funds to maintain
their habits, scores are going to be settled.

And just like an addict looking to recover, the first step is for
prison officials to publicly acknowledge there is a problem.

There is no indication prison officials are even close to taking that
step.
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