It's common knowledge that drug use in prisons is rife, but will tough measures resolve the problem or should the minister look into using a different approach?
By the ministry's own admission, drugs are regularly smuggled into prison despite being strictly forbidden. Current measures include x-ray baggage controls and searches by hand. Normally detainees cannot be frisked without reason, but strip searches do take place on renowned offenders.
Sniffer dogs
The minister wants to introduce sniffer dogs in cells and other rooms and they may even be used to check prison staff. To prevent contraband entering the prisons, visitors' rooms will be adapted from 1 January with tables in snake formation, completely closed off underneath and with a low partition above. Courses for prison officers will also pay more attention to the problem of drugs in prison in the future.
In addition prisoners will undergo more frequent urine tests. If caught, they face stiff disciplinary proceedings. The minister says this is not all, anyone found using drugs may find themselves being prosecuted under the Opium Act. Photo above right: Dutch Minister of Justice Nebahat Albayrak
Drug-free prisons
The argument for drug-free prisons is compelling. In prisons where drugs have been eradicated the atmosphere has improved, use of medication has decreased and sickness leave among prison officers has been reduced. And apparently it can be done, starting with small-scale units on a voluntary basis. Trials in the Belgian cities of Ghent and Dendemonde have proved successful. But the success of programmes like this depends on the cooperation of prisoners themselves.
Prison governor Johan Maertens: "The pressure has to come from the prisoners who want to keep drugs outside the prisons. A drug-free unit can only exist if detainees want one and cooperate voluntarily with urine tests which are essential."
He also warns you have to watch out for drug dealers, who don't actually use drugs
themselves, abusing the trust of prison guards.
Many detainees actually encounter drugs for the first time in prison. Most detainees use the soft drug cannabis, but hard drugs like heroin, amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy are also common. They take drugs partly to ward off boredom and partly because doing time is easier if you join in. As a result prisons are a breeding ground for drug addiction.
According to European Union figures more than half of detainees use drugs. Many of them have been put away for drug offences in the first place. So its not surprising that there are proportionally more drug addicts in prison than in society in general. But what is unusual is that most ex-detainees end their drug habits once they leave prison.
Alternatives
There are alternatives to the proposed clampdown. Drug-related offences could be kept out of the prison system altogether using alternative punishments like community service for minor offences. Of course, serious drug criminals would still be incarcerated.
For several years the Mainline foundation in Amsterdam has promoted health among drug users in Dutch prisons. Their motto is: if you are going to use drugs then do it safely. Outside prisons this approach has been successful with heroine addicts living longer and needle exchange programmes to prevent the spread of AIDS.
Is seems the Netherlands is dropping its tolerant approach to drug use both inside and outside prisons. At present different penitentiaries use different measures to tackle the problem of drug abuse by detainees. The justice minister wants to create a single drug regime across the country. The question is will such a heavy-handed blanket approach work?
Nicola Chadwick
Radio Netherlands
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Dutch Minister of Justice Nebahat Albayrak has announced a clamp down on drug use in prisons, but will tough measures resolve the problem?
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