NCJ Number
172971
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A recent conference sponsored by the University of Central England's Faculty of Law and Social Sciences focused on inmate drug abusers and inmate drug treatment; the event brought together more than 100 representatives of the British Prison Service, other criminal justice agencies, groups concerned with drugs and alcohol, and academic institutions.
Abstract
The discussion focused on policies and procedures on drug detection and drug treatment in prisons, with emphasis on the issue of how to balance control and care. A report on the Prison Service Drug Strategy noted that funding for inmate drug treatment has been increased and that procedures and programs also target supply and demand reduction. Mandatory drug testing was examined and became the central issue discussed at the conference. A researcher noted that although mandatory drug testing is part of a wider drug strategy, it has been introduced in isolation in many places, without the support of treatment programs. It is also regarded by many as a waste of resources; the failure to differentiate between recreational marijuana use and addiction to hard drugs was worrisome. Two presentations focused on drug treatment in Padua, Italy, and developments in inmate drug treatment in Europe as a whole. The conference also examined collaborations among prison officials and outside agencies in meeting needs and creating innovative services.