Pubdate: Sat, 03 Sep 2016
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: John Beaudette
Page: 14
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor.

DRUG CRACKDOWN

Re "Action needed to deal with drugs in jails: Critics" (Kevin Connor,
Aug. 19): The inability of government and correctional agencies to
eliminate this problem is baffling. If we can't control the drug
trafficking within the walls of our jails, how can we control drugs on
the outside? Not to oversimplify the issue, but it would appear that
the sources of drugs coming into these facilities are limited. We
track "who and what" comes and goes. The likely sources of drugs would
be: 1) new prisoners 2) visitors 3) guards and prison management 4)
outside vendors - cleaning, maintenance, food etc, 5) lawyers 6)
parachuting over walls 7) mail. All of these access points can be
closely monitored.

Like speeding in a construction zone, bringing drugs into prisons should 
automatically bring stricter penalties. Loss of jobs, fines, prison 
time, loss of licensing, etc. Tools for searching persons, packages and 
literally anything that comes into/out of these facilities should be 
expanded.! Mandatory drug testing should be the norm. Sniffer dogs could 
be utilized as required. We do this now in our airports and to our 
athletes. Why not our jails? Why do we want to release "addicts" back 
into society, knowing they need a drug fix before the day is out and 
likely having no legal way of getting one? There should be no 
expectation of privacy/entitlement in jails/prisons. Controlling prison 
drugs would make it safer for all.

John Beaudette

Picton

- --------------------------------------------

(You would think a closed society such as a jail or prison - as
opposed to, for example, an airport - would be a place authorities
could stop drug importation and use. Apparently not)
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt