Drugs in Prison

JP Liz V1

How are they getting in? Are staff inside facilitating?

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0813/1464842-eight-prisoners-hospitalised-after-suspected-overdoses/

StrawbsM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058364215/drugs-in-prison

Where there’s a will there’s a way. Any orifice will do

Pauliedragon

Drones are being used now to drop drugs in apparantly. Dealers will always be a step ahead of the people running the prisons same as on the streets. If I was to guess it's probably that mad stuff Nitazine or that Spice **** whatever that is.

One eyed Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122499615#Comment_122499615

Jesus that’s drastic measures 😂

Far more likely:

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/mountjoy-prison-officer-arrested-after-32089893.amp

Gregor Samsa

They don't need staff helping to get it in. There's plenty of ways a visitor can do it. While the visitor searches are fairly thorough (metal detectors, X-ray machine, pat down and often sniffer dog), nothing can be 100% effective. You'll get people shoving it into orifices, hiding it in their baby's nappies. Thrown over the wall into the yard is a common one, especially in the lower security prisons. Dropping from a drone is the more high-tech equivalent. As said above, there's definitely a will, so they find a way.

I had a family member in Mountjoy (and he spent some of his sentence in a couple of other prisons) years ago. He didn't use at all himself, but he said drugs were absolutely rife. One other family member was visiting him one day, waiting in one of the queues for the metal detector. Next thing prison officers pulled a massive machete from the nappy bag of a female visitor up ahead (who had a baby with her). Obviously you would think "who would be so stupid to try to smuggle a fcuking machete into a prison in such an obvious manner when they know their bag is going through a metal detector?". But he explained that it was probably a distraction to allow someone else to get drugs in. The person in question makes a big scene at being caught, the baby is screaming, the prison guards are all focused on dealing with the situation as it unfolds, and quietly someone else in one of the other queues hopes to slip by with hidden pills in the commotion. The one with the machete was probably 16 or 17, so isn't going to end up with a conviction, but even if she did, so what? It'll just be another one to add to the list.

Atlantic Dawn

Each prison cell having its own landline is a game changer, the prisoner can call up if they don't feel the best of an evening...

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40899083.html

banie01

Drugs and other contraband are rampant in prison. The combination of long days in confinement and even with the best intention of prison support & education services, isolation, boredom & prisoners ingenuity in smuggling all contribute to the problem.

The need to make Prison reformative as well as a punishment all too often leads to calls to remove TVs, consoles & other perks from prisoners piles more motivation on those inside to develop alternative pass times.

The ease of accessibility despite inbound checks such as sniffer dogs and other measures illustrates just how strong the demand is inside for drugs.

The amount of prisoners that seek to obliterate their reality, to leave themselves drift their way through their sentences before release back to society with serious drug habits.

It's a tad reductive but prison is very much akin to the rat park experiments.

We need to devise a system that engages and reforms prisoners. Rather than one that has them rolling the dice on overdose risk.

Pauliedragon

Maybe a ride will distract them from the boredom.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1931825/Female-prison-officers-having-sex-with-male-prisoners

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/29/woman-arrested-after-video-apparently-shows-uk-prison-officer-having-sex-with-inmate

Beechwoodspark

maybe too much like common sense but hear me out …

instead of issuing these warnings they should just do their utmost to stop ALL drugs getting in

but if ppl take them then they are on their own

enricoh

Fella down the local is a retired prison officer, said he turned a blind eye to any drug taking. Once the fellas had their smack there wasn't a peep out of them and he had a handy shift. Hard to blame him.

artanevilla

I'd say a blind eye is turned a lot of the time. 500 herion addict locked in a building with no gear is probably not a good recipe.

DellyBelly

It's one way of getting more prison space...they wont be any loss to society anyway

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122499982#Comment_122499982

That's a bit harsh to be fair.

joeymcg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500029#Comment_122500029

You've never had your house burgled then, somebody in your space going through your things.

Uninvited might I add.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122499982#Comment_122499982

Edgy.

Barbie2k23

Sure

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500068#Comment_122500068

I know what burgled means, there was no need for the uninvited addition.

Who hasn't been of crime?

corner of hells

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500117#Comment_122500117

I think a word might have been robbed on you.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500125#Comment_122500125

You'd want eyes in the back of your head around here.

Danny healy ray

any word who the druggies are ?

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058364215/drugs-in-prison

I have long been of the option that the authorities turn a blind eye, allowing some in to keep the prison population easier to manage. If they really wanted to stop getting into a prison they could, it would of course have the civil liberties people up in arms. Visitors through glass screens with phones etc.

corner of hells

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500217#Comment_122500217

Interestingly enough , I worked in Mountjoy prison many years where cctv was fitted in three of the visiting rooms with a stand alone room to manage the system , 4 camera per room , two were fixed and two were fully functional.

In my innocence I asked would it not have been cheaper to fit screens from the table tops to the ceiling and was told an older and more cynical prison officer who said firstly the civil liberties twats would lose their mind and that no matter what was done drugs would be smuggled in.

It was me that fitted the cctv system and my van was regularly searched for drugs.Had nothing all the same.

RobbingBandit

Like something out of recent Mayor of Kingstown season

RobbingBandit

Seriousness synthetic drugs are a sever danger who knows what exactly these drugs are cut with or the strength of them. Gonna be a whole lot more trouble in tbe coming days and weeks.

Gusser09

I'll go out on a limb and suggest they didnt have to wait on a trolley in AandE like us mere tax payers.

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500415#Comment_122500415

Too late.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0813/1464842-eight-prisoners-hospitalised-after-suspected-overdoses/

celt262

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500444#Comment_122500444

Are you on them yourself?

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500217#Comment_122500217

Knowing a member of the prison service, I can tell you your opinion is entirely correct

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500999#Comment_122500999

The State will end getting used and losing, for not taking better care of their guests.

Tommysocks11

They are probably no loss to society anyway, vast majority of inmates are scumbags who wouldn't think twice of slashing u for a few quid or robbing an old elderly person in their own home or else gangland members who think they are above the law. Worse again paedophile's or rapists, they should be given drugs in the hope of overdoses.

Danny healy ray

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122501064#Comment_122501064

the nortourious pat quirke a bit of all the above is an inmate in that prison

ooter

Always amazed me that they managed to keep covid from running rampant in prisons but they can't do it with drugs.

plodder

Something a small bit surreal about this:

In a statement this evening, the IPS said: "Extra vigilance is being taken across the prison estate and the Irish Prison Service has commenced an information campaign for prisoners around the dangers of consuming contraband."

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500453#Comment_122500453

I never touch any synthetic. 100% natural all the way. 😎

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122499734#Comment_122499734

Prison is not suppose to be luxurious, with landline and Netflix, what is next jacuzzi baths

Atlantic Dawn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122502875#Comment_122502875

Don't forget the Sky Sports 😉…

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-prison-service-defends-soaring-32379829

Mark25

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122502875#Comment_122502875

It really isn't "luxurious" as you say. Phones in cells came in during covid to stop prisoners having to gather and use the same phones. The calls are still restricted and monitored but you have a bit more privacy - apart from cellmates if you have them.

There are TVs in the cells have been for a good while with different channels but the ones everybody have. Didn't have sky sports or movies. Some of the TVs on the landings would have those and I am guessing for the Officers but not in your regular cells. There is Netflix but when I was there that was controlled by the Officers so everybody looking at Netflix would be looking at the same. Regular prisoners are in their cells 16-17 hours a day and protection ones 22-23 hours so you need something to pass the time. If you have cellmates you need to agree what to watch.

In some of the new prison wings and units like the Progression Unit in Mountjoy there are showers in the cell but you only get those cells if you are working and engaging with programmed. It's a big incentive for most lads.

Drugs aren't everywhere but easy enough to get if you want them and have a bit of pull or are connected. Your cell does be searched but people are clever enough about getting and storing them. Lads have plenty of time to plan things and get them in in all sorts of ways including the ones mentioned here

plodder

Pretty sure the progression unit is drug free, but was surprised to read in article below that they are planning to close it, due to general over-crowding. Seems short sighted and given our growth in population, you'd think more prison spaces would be understood as necessary.

https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/mountjoy-prison-6390398-May2024/

Mark25

Didnt know it was closing. Never there myself but know it was the best place to end up.

Birneybau

I'm not sure if this picture is from before, during or after

Deebles McBeebles

Personally I think we should supply prisons with Nitazene and Fentanyl. Anyone with a taste for life after their sentence will steer clear.