CRIME THRIVES IN PRISON

Weapons, Drugs Abound And Guards Have Limited Powers To Stop Them: Documents

OTTAWA -- Federal prisons are brimming with lethal weapons, hard
drugs and homemade booze, but Corrections Canada brass is promising
to step up efforts to curb the contraband.

Documents obtained by Sun Media through access to information reveal
inmates have their hands on everything from crack cocaine and heroin
to explosives, hacksaws, pornography and classified government material.

In reference to explosives and handcuff keys, a notice from the
Correctional Service of Canada accompanying the list explained that
the "vast majority of those items were found in common areas and were
of no concern." Further, it noted that none of the contraband items
were found in possession of "high profile" prisoners.

Legally Limited

Sylvain Martel, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional
Officers, said tension and danger are growing with the rise in drugs
and weapons in Canada's penitentiaries. Despite the "dramatic"
increase of dangerous weapons stemming from escalating gang activity
behind bars, officers are bound by legal limits on search and
seizure, and often offenders aren't charged for drug possession, he said.

"That is a nightmare for us," Martel said. "CSC should review its
policies on this. It seems like we need a search warrant to search a
cell in the institution."

CSC spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli said contraband is often seized
at the door by security, but it's difficult to detect because
thousands of visitors, volunteers and contractors pass through each
day. Inmates also devise innovative ways to get drugs on site, from
hiding them in body cavities to stuffing them inside tennis balls or
dead birds tossed over the fence.

Pilon-Santilli said CSC is exploring improved technology to detect
contraband and is encouraging inmates to take part in education, drug
rehabilitation and harm reduction programs.

Conservative MP Myron Thompson said "hoodlums" have been running the
show instead of the authorities for too long. He said there must be
an immediate crackdown to rid the prisons of drugs and weapons.

Naughty Things Behind Bars

Some items seized in Canadian prisons in the last two years:

- - Hash

- - Marijuana

- - Crack cocaine

- - Ecstasy

- - Alcohol

- - Explosives

- - Zip gun

- - Homemade shanks, knives and other weapons

- - Cellphone

- - Classified material

- - Government property

- - Hacksaw

- - Handcuff key

- - Pornographic material

- - Roach clip

- - Drug syringe

Source: Correctional Service of Canada