Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jun 2014
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?132 (Heroin Overdose)

CORONER RECOMMENDS BETTER PRISON CHECKS

The Deputy State Coroner has recommended that NSW prison cells should 
be subject to random searches at afternoon lockdown, after the 
overdose death of a female inmate highlighted the endemic nature of 
prison drug use. TracyLee Brannigan, 41, died from a heroin overdose 
at Dillwynia Correctional Centre while locked in her cell on the 
night of February 24 last year. In handing down his findings in 
relation to Ms Brannigan's death on Monday, Deputy Coroner Paul 
MacMahon said there was evidence that 75 per cent of women inmates in 
NSW had "drug addiction issues". He acknowledged that steps were 
being taken to address this problem, but found that most drug taking 
occurred after inmates were locked in for the night.
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