The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Michael McDowell, T.D., today published the Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison.
The strategy provides, for the first time, a co-ordinated, consistent national approach to eliminating the supply of drugs into prison as well as ensuring that appropriate treatment is available to prisoners to help them conquer their addiction.
"Tolerating a culture of this kind within prisons in not an option," said Minister McDowell. "Drug abuse creates a culture of violence and intimidation, a culture extending beyond the prison walls into the neighbouring community and the families of inmates."
The new policy document fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish a plan to end all heroin use in Irish prisons as well as the Minister's own commitment to achieving a drug-free prison system.
Supply Elimination
The implementation of the new Policy & Strategy will see an intensification of efforts in the prison system to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons. This will involve the traditional means of effecting supply reduction - staff vigilance, physical searches and supervision of persons entering prisons - continuing to be reinforced by means of improved facilities and procedures. The Policy & Strategy also provides for a range of new measures to eliminate the supply of drugs into prisons. Notably, enhanced visit security, mandatory drug testing and the introduction of drug detection dogs.
Dealing with Drug Abuse
An underlying aim of the new Policy & Strategy is the operation of all treatment programmes within a coherent policy framework, understood and supported by all agencies involved in drug treatment within the prison system. This is essential to:
- the successful development of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment process which would assist in matching prisoners to the most effective and appropriate treatments and interventions available,
- the development of individualised programme plans for prisoners having due regard to their particular circumstances, and
- provision for continuity of post-release treatment, care and support services.
Other Measures
The new Policy also provides for enhanced engagement with the Community & Voluntary Sector, who play an important role in supporting drug addicted prisoners, both in prison and in the community. It also provide for the strengthening of the links to national bodies in this area, notably in the area of information sharing and research.
Implementation
Working to fulfil these commitments will involve the implementation of stringent measures to prevent drugs from getting into prisons while, at the same time, continuing to invest in services within prisons to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the prisoner population as well as meeting prisoners' treatment needs.
"The Irish Prison Service's firm aim in this policy is to eradicate any 'drug culture' in prisons, remove temptation of drug abuse for some prisoners, and end the cycle of abuse for others" said Minister McDowell. "For many it will finally spur them on to seek the treatment they need and that the appropriate range of treatment and rehabilitation services will be available to all prisoners who need them."
The Policy & Strategy is being published today on the Irish Prison Service Website (www.irishprisons.ie).
3 May 2006.