NCJ Number
199989
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 28 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 10-22
Date Published
April 2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a survey of drug testing of inmates and correctional officers.
Abstract
Approximately 2 billion drug tests were performed on correctional staff and inmate populations in 44 United States correctional systems during fiscal year 2002. An average of 3.07 percent of these drug tests were positive for the presence of an illicit substance. Forty-seven United States and Canadian correctional systems conduct random drug testing, while 43 require a drug test for specific causes, 25 perform the test at a staff member’s request, 12 test at a doctor’s request, and 13 test as a condition of program participation. In most United States correctional systems, a positive drug test results in the loss of inmate privileges, such as telephone, television, day room, and yard use. Correctional officer candidates who test positive for the presence of drugs are most often disqualified for employment for a specified length of time, generally ranging from 1 year to lifetime disqualification. Few correctional systems mandate drug testing for administrative and support staff. The advantages and disadvantages of correctional system drug testing are also discussed in this article. Advantages include increased safety and decreased violence, while the disadvantages include the costs and the time it takes to administer the tests. Pages 12 through 22 of this article present tables showing the correctional system by States, the inmate populations in each system, and information concerning drug testing policies, sanctions, and drug treatment.