NCJ Number
132663
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1990) Pages: 52,54,56,58
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article first reviews legal issues in the drug testing of corrections employees and then discusses reasons for the establishment of a drug-testing program in a correctional setting.
Abstract
The courts have not conclusively ruled on drug testing within prisons, notably random drug tests for personnel in safety or security-related positions; however, the issue is likely to be decided under the framework established in two recent U.S. Supreme Court cases: Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives Association (1989) and NTEU v. Von Raab (1989). Both cases upheld drug testing of the specified employees after balancing the government's interest in maintaining safety and other concerns against the employees' privacy. Corrections has a compelling obligation to ensure a drug-free workplace. To ensure sound institutional operations, institutions rely on the sound judgment and the input of their employees. Drug use adversely affects judgment, decisionmaking, reaction time, and other abilities required to perform work safely and to keep the institution secure. An employee's failure to observe, to remain diligent, and to react appropriately and promptly to a situation can transform a routine episode into a major incident. Staff members who fail to act appropriately and effectively endanger both coworkers and inmates. The crucial nature of staff behavior in a correctional setting makes drug testing appropriate for both correctional job applicants and employees.