CLINTON DETAILS PLAN TO FIGHT PRISON DRUGS

Inmates who keep using narcotics should stay jailed, he says.

Washington-President Clinton prodded the states Monday to keep prisoners
off drugs. He called for tough new penalties to stop jailhouse drug
paddling and earmarked $197 million for drug testing and treatment.

"To inmates we say, 'if you stay on drugs, then you'll have to stay in
jail,'" Clinton said during a ceremony in the Oval Office. "To parolees we
say, 'If you want to keep your freedom, you have to stay free from drugs.'"

The program has these elements.

Requires states to submit annual reports on their prison drug-abuse
problems, building on an earlier requirement that they submit drug-testing
and intervention plans in order to qualify for federal prison grants.

Urges Congress to pass a law permitting states to use prison construction
money to provide drug testing, treatment and penalties for all prisoners.

Requires states to toughen penalties for drug trafficking in correctional
facilities as a condition for receiving federal prison-construction funds.

Clinton said his new budget will include $197 million in initiatives to
promote drug-free jails and mandatory drug treatment for inmates testing
positive for drugs.