NCJ Number
194014
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: January 24, 2002 Pages: 1-5
Date Published
2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the survey findings by the Federal Bureau of Prisons on reducing drugs and alcohol in prison.
Abstract
The survey findings were developed using several methods, which included structured interviews of selected wardens, interviews of wardens of facilities in which drug use had changed significantly over the past few years, a review of findings from past audits, and site visits to validate survey findings. The survey findings revealed that control practices fell into five general areas: visiting area/entrance procedures, investigative operations, institution operations and shakedowns, rear gate and delivery procedures, and staff training and communication. In regard to visiting area and entrance procedures, the ion spectrometry technology proved to be highly effective. Practices that increase the machine’s effectiveness include continued random use of visitors, weekly 100 percent saturation testing of all visitors, and manufacturer training of the institution’s supervisor. In regard to investigative operations, many institutions cited aggressive intelligence operations as the key factor in drug interdiction. In regard to institution operations and shakedowns, a number of innovations were cited including a smaller auger through all inmate toilets to clear them out, portable scanning equipment to scan all inmate mattresses and property within a unit, and increases in the frequency and aggressiveness of area shakedowns. In regard to mail and delivery procedures, several institutions reported similar procedures regarding inmate packages. All materials are taken to a central mailroom and scanned. Communication between intelligence and mailroom staff is critical in concentrating efforts on inmates on the mail-monitoring list. In regard to staff training and communication, it is critical that the warden personally communicates to inmates concerning the consequences of negative behavior. Many institutions have inmates that want to stay local. It is clearly communicated to the inmate population that involvement in drugs or alcohol will result in a transfer. And finally, staff training was cited as very important, particularly how training blended with intelligence activities. At a high-security facility, a number of the practices discussed above were instituted resulting in a 50 percent reduction in monthly positive urinalysis for drug use.