TORIES READY CASH BOOST FOR DRUG-FREE PRISONS

Janice Tibbetts Canwest News Service

The Conservative government is expected to announce today that it
will increase prison security in an effort to restrict the flow of
illicit drugs.

The initiative will include more drug-sniffing dogs, security staff,
scanners, and new search rules to detect smugglers visiting the institutions.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day will publicize his plans at a
news conference at Kent Institution in

Agassiz, B.C., carrying out recommendations contained in a report
last year from a panel that conducted a sweeping review of the prison system.

The report, released last December, noted that about 80 per cent of
offenders arrive at prison with a serious substance abuse problem,
creating an increasingly dangerous environment for staff and offenders.

"It is not surprising that drug abuse and trafficking is an issue
within the penitentiary walls," said the report.

"The current offender population is one that will look to find every
vulnerability in Correctional Services Canada's security systems to
introduce drugs into the penitentiary."

Melisa Leclerc, Day's communications director, said that the drug
announcement will include an infusion of millions of dollars, set
aside in the 2008-09 federal budget to address recommendations
contained in the prison review.