Prison battles against drugs
(CNS): Following reports of ganja being found hidden in staff offices at the prison last week the Deputy director at Northward said that since December the prison has intensified its efforts to stop drugs from getting inside the prison walls but he described it as a “relentless battle” to combat the smuggling. Daniel Greaves told CNS that the latest haul of drugs was less than an ounce and was found as a result of a search based on intelligence about ganja being hidden in the office. He explained that as the prison authorities clamp down then prisoners are becoming more creative as they try to smuggle drugs into HMP Northward and then to hide it once it’s inside the grounds.
“While it's been challenging due to resource reasons, the security department continue to tirelessly to battle all attempts by smugglers to have their goods delivered,” Greaves stated. “These efforts are supported by intelligence, external fence patrol, joint police/ prison operation and intensive searches of living accommodation inside the prison, hence the need for prisoners to be creative in trying to find place to hide their illegal items.”
Greaves also explained that aside from increasing the physical security to try and stop the drugs the prison was now looking at how to get prisoners off the drugs.
“While it is a relentless battle, we remain positive and optimistic that through programs and initiatives we can reduce the demand for drugs which will ultimately lead to a reduction in the supply,” he added.
Over the last two months or so, the prison deputy said that more than 16lbs of ganja has been smuggled in and handed over to police. “This is our reality” Greaves said of the situation that faces all prisons the world over.
He explained that when the prison authorities find inmates with drugs they can be charged and dealt with internally but depending on the amount the cases can be referred to the police for prosecution.
In the most recent case Greaves said that investigations are now underway to find the possible source. “There is no reason to believe that the drugs found belong to any officers at this time, however the investigation will look at all possibilities,” he said as he explained that prisoners had been working in the area cleaning but that office provides many functions for both staff and prisoners.
Prior to the discovery of the drugs in the shift commander’s office on Thursday morning several packets of ganja were recovered from the administrative building which houses the prison director’s office last week.
The use of ganja appears to be prevalent in Northward and one inmate freely admitted using the drug when he gave evidence during a recent murder trial in the grand court. The prison witness told the judge that his memory was faulty as a result of his regular ganja use which had persisted whilst he was incarcerated.
While HMP Northward appears to have a problem with ganja, when it comes to the serious problems associated with class A drugs, such as cocaine and heroin Cayman has largely escaped, not just the more damaging effects of those drugs on prisoners but also the accompanying violence.
Category: Crime
Wow ganja is being found in the prison!!! OMFG the world is coming to a end!! This is so horrible… Countless lives lost because ganja kills obviously..
If drugs were found in my office (or yours, dear reader, for that matter) I would be arrested. Why no arrests of prison administrators?
I really can't believe that it is so difficult to comprehend that there may be a possibility that the supply of drugs in the prison could be brought in by officers?
Think about it, inmates are searched, visitors are searched… are officers being searched?
Just because you have on a uniform doesn't mean that you are "Officer Do No Wrong"…let's not be naive.
The official response to the punitive strip search findings was typical of the attitude problems of those at the top.
More solitary confinement. Rigorous testing. Increased sentences for drug use. Stop being soft.
Increased sentences for drug users! Yes! Let's fill the prisons to the brim! That is sure to solve the drug problem.
In fact you missed my point, probably because I did not make it very well. I don't see any point in locking up people just for using drugs. That is one of the most stupid policies ever invented. Rather I would have the fact someone was high when they committed a crime as a factor which would increase sentence for other crimes. This would mean that if someone did drugs but did not harm society through their using then the state would not punish them or intervene in their lifestyle, but once the line was crossed (if you pardon the pun) and a crime was committed then the user would face a stiffer penalty.
Cut down on their visiting time to 3 hours per month. Let all visitors adhere to the following (this was taken off the US Federal Prison website)
XXXX
CNS: Can you just post the link, please. The cut and paste was loo long.
You just need someone in charge who has the balls to kick arse and take numbers.
How about giving Derek Haines the Prison Governor's job?
Derek Haines…Brilliant idea.
The current management are so complacent and safe in the knowledge that they will never be accountable, all they have to do is collect their paycheck and blame it on the system, lack of resources and so on.
No reason to believe the drugs belonged to any of the officers? So the prisoners can freely come and go from the staff offices and areas to smuggle and hide their drugs? Damn! The more I hear about this place the more it sound like holiday camp!
sounds like the inmates are having a laugh up there….
And when the adminstration is criticised by an independent complaints commissioner for serious misconduct in the prison, it basically says that nothig was wrong and asks for a "reconsideration". This mindset, of rejecting criticism is endemic, and was so in the last administration as much as the present one.
More , not less, strip searches please.
there asr drug dogs at northward. unfortunately drug dogs can only work for a limited period at a time, they are used on searches of course. however to use them on smuggling would mean walking with them all day which isnt possible for the dogs welfare basically,
smuggling is a massive problem world wide, unfortunately here in cayman the prisoners families and friends seem to like to supply their chullen with drugs. ( doh )
staff do all they can with limited resources and tools. believe it or not some local family members etc drive to the prison in the dead of night and hide drugs in the external bush area for pick up in a day, week, months time, its very difficult sometimes.
drugs in the staff office inside the jail? well….. cleaners have limited access to office areas to clean of course and bingo…. theres your drugs hidden right there. unfortunate but we have to employ prisoners to clean etc.
management do everything they can on an ever decreasing budget.
truth.
I remember that some time ago this woman on the Brac was charged for possession of ganja even thought the ganja was found in her boyfriend's place and she did not test positive for it. How come the double standard?
Forget the dogs , forget the excuses – just get rid of the managment It's time
uhh huh…
Really!!! Just put one of those expensive drug dogs up there. Excuses!
Question? Why are the prisoners allowed in the office? Are they in a prison or working in an office? It is worrying to know that they are dealt with so liberally.
I hate to point out the obvious…but get a drug dog!
Then the clowns running that show can have it clamp on their arm while their sharing their spliff! This whole system is run like a circus so this whole situation should not come as much of a surprise!
Greaves needs to call in an expert to solve his drugs problem.
For 50% of the confiscated drugs, I could have every one of his prisoners suffering withdrawal symptoms in no time.
Withdrawal from what? Marijuana? I hope you're joking… and so does 20 other people.
16lbs in two months! That's a good lot of weed! Let's say they don't find every bit and them boys puff, puff, pass 25%, that's average 10 pounds of herb getting inside the confines of Northward every month! Just to get an idea, imagine 10 pounds of lawn cuttings. There must be some a purpose for that much weed to get into a small prison, can't be just negligence. Maybe keep the prisoners mellow, yo?