Drugs are rife in prison claims judge
Mon 16 April 2007
Bethany Young, Journalism
Maroochydore District Court Judge John Robertson has made a scathing attack on the accessibility prisoners have to drugs while they are in prison.
Judge Robertson was overseeing the case of Joel Kerry Ashwood, 26, who plead guilty to 12 counts of burglary and stealing, when he made the claims.
Ashwood’s defence attorney Simon Lewis described his client as a “shocking heroin addict”.
He said Ashwood had only spent two years out of jail since he was 14.
He also said Ashwood was a “cyclical addict” and attributed this to the availability of drugs during his imprisonment.
Judge Robertson said it was an “absolute disgrace” that prisoners could have access to drugs while in custody.
“The community must be horrified to hear that a prisoner can get hold of heroin and amphetamines while in jail,” Judge Robertson said.
He said he kept hearing similar reports about one prison in particular.
A member of Ashwood’s defence team disclosed the prison as the Woodford Correctional Centre.
Taffy Owen worked as a drug and alcohol officer at Woodford for five years between 1997 and 2002.
He said he agreed with Judge Robertson’s allegations.
However Mr Owen understood inmates generally did not have access to enough drugs to form a habit.
He said though this could be a misconception, and the drug problem could be far more extensive than prisoners let on.
Mr Owen said inmates had told him hiding drugs in their body cavities was one method of bypassing security.
He said he did not believe there was corrupt staff, rather inmates or their friends and family were the culprits.
Mr Owen was adamant the authorities were doing all they could to deter drug smuggling into Queensland jails.
“There are sniffer dogs, warning signs, random searches, even a new machine that can detect traces of drugs on clothing. They’re doing a hell of a lot and have invested a lot of money,” Mr Owen said.
The Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Judy Spence, said this year alone 279 people had been detected with traces of drugs on them when visiting a Queensland prison.
She said five of these people are now facing charges.
“Any person who attempts to, or is suspected of smuggling drugs into corrective services facilities face tough sentences if caught and offenders also face disciplinary action – bans from all visits, non-contact visits and prosecution,” Minister Spence said.
She said subsequently the rate of drug use had dropped from 17.9 per cent of inmates in 1996/7 to 5.1 per cent in 2004/05.
Mr Owen was frank when asked why there is a drug problem in prison.
“As long as there are drugs on the outside there will be drugs on the inside,” Mr Owen said.
He said rehabilitation programs are far more beneficial for addicts but there is a serious shortage of beds for inmates.
Moonyah, a recovery centre in Brisbane, only allowed 10 per cent of its capacity for prisoners, whereas 90 per cent of beds were kept available for addicts on the outside, Mr Owen said.
Another rehab, Logan House, had a policy that prohibits taking on prisoners with a history of violence.
Mr Owen said the lack of rehabilitation services available to addicted inmates was where the problem lay.
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Submitted Comments
good but a bit long and boring
damon