HEROIN MISSING FROM GOUVERNEUR JAIL

GOUVERNEUR - The state Department of Correctional Services and its
inspector general's office are investigating about five grams of
heroin missing from the Gouverneur Correctional Facility.

"We do have an open investigation with the missing heroin at the
Gouverneur Correctional Facility," Linda M. Foglia, spokeswoman for
the state Department of Correctional Services, said Friday. "The
evidence is missing from a secure location at the facility."

The heroin was smuggled into the prison by a person visiting an
inmate, but was seized by prison employees. She declined to reveal
when the heroin was reported missing.

No employees at the correctional facility have been suspended, but the
state agency continues interviewing "appropriate staff." Gouverneur
Correctional Facility is the medium-security state prison.

"This is highly unusual," Ms. Foglia said. "The practice and
guidelines we have implemented statewide works well. This is an
unusual situation."

The state prison has come under scrutiny recently when three women
were charged with having sex with male inmates in the facility's
commissary.