NCJ Number
136463
Date Published
1989
Length
39 pages
Annotation
Illegal drug use and trafficking within prisons is a serious problem confronting State and Federal corrections officials. In Oregon, two system-wide, random urinalysis samples of all secure and minimum custody correctional facilities, conducted in September and October 1989, indicated that between 5.8 percent and 10.4 percent of inmates were using drugs.
Abstract
Control methods used by the Oregon Department of Corrections since 1985 are similar to those used in many other States and include, inter alia, random drug testing, control of visitors, staff background investigations, searches of suspected staff, control and monitoring of inmate mail and trust accounts, and close supervision. The Department proposed several new and expanded methods of drug use prevention which were implemented during 1989. These include increased random urinalysis of all inmates, use of urinalysis "field test kits" in minimum custody facilities, use of drug detection dogs in all institutions, and the implementation of drug education and treatment programs for inmates. In addition, the National Institute of Corrections conducted a study to evaluate methods of illegal drug entry into Oregon prisons. Pending approval of the Governor and Legislature, the Department planned, at the time of this report, to institute the following additional procedures: computerization of intelligence data, increased staff training in the areas of illicit drug identification and interception, appointment of an intelligence/drug control officer to work with law enforcement agencies, modification of rules and procedures to limit avenues of entry and to increase penalties for those involved in drug trafficking and use, and expansion of the drug detection dog teams. 8 appendixes