DRUG ADDICTED CRIMINALS NOT GETTING REHABILITATION IN JAIL

(NZPA) - Drug addicted criminals are not getting rehabilitation while
behind bars so are likely to reoffend when released, a drug counsellor says.

Roger Brooking believed recidivist criminals would keep offending to
feed their drug habits, The Dominion Post reported.

Mr Brooking also noted "bizarre" differences in the sentences given
to two drug-using serial criminals he had prepared court-ordered drug
and alcohol assessments for.

Daniel Johnson and Michael Campbell were both convicted in Wellington
District Court on separate burglary charges, but received different sentences.

Johnson, who has 56 previous convictions, was jailed for two years.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh gave the 22-year-old leave to apply for home
detention so he could be treated for his addictions.

Campbell, a P addict with more than 50 previous convictions, was
sentenced to two years nine months' jail by Judge Denys Barry,
despite pleading to be allowed to enter a residential drug treatment centre.

Judge Barry said he was obliged to impose a term of imprisonment
which left no room to apply for home detention. "I can only hope
(your) determination (to overcome substance abuse) can survive the
term of imprisonment."

A substance-abuse assessment prepared for Campbell's sentencing said
he was able to get drugs in jail "almost every day" by swapping them
for paintings he did.

Mr Brooking slammed the justice system for the "bizarre" sentences
and the Corrections Department for not providing enough prisoners
with treatment.

Public Prisons Service acting general manager Paul Monk said
Corrections was funded to treat 174 prisoners a year at specialist
alcohol and drug units. These units were at Arohata, for women, and
Waikeria, for men.

Campbell and Johnson are serving their sentences at Rimutaka Prison.