GETTING TO THE POINT IN PRISONS

IT was pleasing to read that the Brumby Government is to take the
sensible step of introducing condoms into Victorian prisons, writes
Andrew Fraser.

But at the same time a golden opportunity to finally address the
issue of drugs in prison by introducing a clean needle program for
drug users has been lost.

While condoms are necessary, their impact on the spread of hepatitis
and HIV within the prison system will be minimal.

The thorny issue of drug use in jail is the elephant in the room
that everyone ignores.

Homosexuality is common in jails but drug use is rife, the system is
awash with drugs and disease is most commonly spread by prisoners
sharing putrid, blunt, old needles.

Don't worry about drugs and the cost of them in jail.

The big-ticket item for a drug-using prisoner is a new fit (needle)
and something a friend or wife picks up on the outside for free then
costs in the vicinity of $100 in jail, if they are are "lucky"
enough to get their hands on one.

The cold, hard fact is that, like it or not, drugs run the prison
system and until everybody, especially the Office of Corrections,
comes to terms with this then no progress will ever be made.

I am not for one minute suggesting openly allowing drugs in prison,
but reality must be faced.

In this state there are no prisons you can serve your sentence in
that are drug-free. Some are worse than others.

If a prisoner is using heroin and is out of it he is easy to handle.
The same applies for cannabis smokers.

Some officers prefer the prisoners to be in this state and turn a
blind eye to drug use.

Quite rightly the Government is concerned about the health of
prisoners, but if they are so concerned then needles must be supplied too.

The question of cost is frankly irrelevant as both condoms and
needles are cheap.

Prisoners have little enough money as it is, so they should be free.

The issue that appears to have been overlooked is the impact all
this disease has on the general public.

First off is the threat to everyone's health, with hepatitis being
spread relatively easily.

Second, we should consider the horrendous cost in terms of dollars
and the drain on health services these sick people present.

All that can possibly be done to minimise disease within prisons and
after a prisoner's release into the community should be done.

I recently attended a lecture on hepatitis and it was revealed that
more than two-thirds of male prisoners suffered from hepatitis, and
the percentage is higher for females.

If true, these figures alone signify a total failure of the system
as it now stands.

One of the stated reasons for condoms being available is to minimise
harm in a rape or sexual assault situation.

That suggestion is absurd.

I have witnessed such attacks, and to think that an attacker will
stop to put on a condom defies belief - it would not happen.

These people do not think like other members of society do.

The Government should completely review the issue of condoms and
needle supply in jails.

It should result in the Brumby Government implementing the
inevitable finding that it is in the wider community's best interest
for these items to be supplied, free of charge to prisoners.

ANDREW FRASER is a former lawyer who spent time in prison for drug
offences. He is author of Court in the Middle.