Pubdate: Tue, 10 May 2016
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Page: A6
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Andrew Seymour

CONTRABAND AT OTTAWA'S JAIL USUALLY COMES IN BACK DOOR

Body Cavities Are Used To Smuggle In Drugs And Even Knives, Experts
Say

The colloquial term for it is "hooping," and it is considered the most
common way that contraband drugs enter into Ottawa's jail.

Forget about the file hidden in the cake. Getting a banned item such
as drugs or weapons into the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre usually
involves hiding it in the rectum or, if you're female, another body
cavity.

But inmates who crave a fix behind bars in Ottawa will soon need to
figure out a new way to get illegal items into the jail after the
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services announced that
full body scanners will be installed in all 26 of Ontario's adult jails.

The ministry couldn't provide details of exactly how much contraband
is seized at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, but jail staff say
drugs and other banned items routinely find their way inside.

We asked two correctional officers and a former inmate turned prison
consultant about the common ways contraband enters a jail: Hidden in a
body cavity: Inmates will go to great lengths to smuggle things into
provincial jails, and that usually means sticking it up their
backside, said Tammy Carson, a correctional officer and chair of the
correctional officers' provincial health and safety committee. Carson
said drugs and tobacco are the most popular item to smuggle, but
knives and other weapons have found their way in inside an inmate's
derriere.

"They will wrap up a metal knife, or even a non-metal knife, with
toilet paper or something and bring it in that way," she said. "It's
phenomenal the lengths that people will do to bring this stuff in with
them."

Former inmate Lee Chapelle, who runs a consulting service for
prisoners and their families, said a lot can fit in someone's behind.

"You have miles of (intestinal) tract, so if you were to take it
slowly, you'd be amazed at what could be put inside a person," said
Chapelle.

Chapelle said a smuggler would usually wrap the drugs or tobacco in
plastic wrap or a balloon and squeeze them until they are small.

The plastic yellow egg that holds a toy inside a Kinder chocolate egg
is also popular. An inmate caught with one of the eggs died at the
Ottawa jail after he tried to swallow it.

"I used to like Kinder eggs until I started corrections 15 years ago,
and I've never been able to buy one since," said Carson. Swallowing
it: Swallowing little balloons or condoms filled with drugs with the
intention of excreting them later is another way to sneak the
contraband into the jail, although it carries considerably more risk.
A burst balloon can mean a fatal drug overdose.

"Some people would swallow, but those are really more inexperienced,"
Chapelle said.

Inmates suspected of swallowing drugs are usually placed in what is
known as a dry cell without any running water until they pass the
items. With a professional visitor, such as a lawyer: It's a much
rarer occurrence, but it has been known to happen, including in Ottawa.

A family lawyer pleaded guilty in 2002 and had her licence to practise
law suspended for a month after admitting to trying to smuggle a
syringe of cocaine and some THC to an inmate in a chocolate bar.

Carson said she's seen lawyers who have attempted to bring sealed
envelopes to clients containing contraband. Briefcases of lawyers are
routinely put through metal detectors, she said.

Jail visits between family or friends and inmates are almost
exclusively done with glass separating the offender and the visitor.
Via a "friendly" correctional officer or staff member: Correctional
officers and jail staff are the only ones who avoid metal detectors or
scanners. They make a good choice to smuggle items in, if you can find
one willing to risk a criminal record, lost job and public
humiliation.

"I would put an effort out in finding if there was a friendly guard or
staff. I would see if anyone within my network had that available,"
said Chapelle. "That would be the first go-to that I would think of."

Carson said there are examples of correctional officers across Canada
who were tempted by the lure of big money or are vulnerable enough to
fall prey to manipulative inmates.

"It's kind of a taboo thing to do in corrections, and hopefully those
people are caught, terminated and prosecuted," said Carson.
"Unfortunately, it does happen. We take an oath, and you hope - like
any other job - you hope that people are going to stick with that." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D