Drug Addiction: Legal Issue or Health Issue

1. Drug Addiction: Legal Issue or Health Issue • Presenters: • Karen Turner, Streetworks • Sandra Johnson, HIV Edmonton • Brent Wenarchuk, Boyle Street Community Services • Panel Members: • Jason • Jason • Pamela • Wade

2. Drugs situation in prison On any given day in 2007/2008, an average of 38,348 inmates were in custody in Canada. Canadian prisons are filled with people whose only crime is being a drug addict.  Canada has the highest number of drug arrests per capita of any nation other than the United States. Source: http://www.statcan.gc.ca; Diane Riley, PhD

3. Drug use in prisons • Extensive drug use and drug dealing in prison • Prohibition allows an economy that generates high income and guards and other staff can be offered high pay for assistance • Some people are forced to commit crimes so as to bring drugs back in

4. Risk for drug users in prison The risk for drug users to get HIV or Hep C is very high in prisons They lack access to safe injection equipment so they have to share needles. Drug users use makeshift equipment that rips veins apart. Drug testing in prison has turned pot smokers into serious drug users because pot has a long detection period. Being vulnerable to predators ,violence

5. Remand centre guard charged with traffickingCBC News, Apr 4, 2011 A guard at the Edmonton Remand Centre is facing trafficking charges after drugs were smuggled into the downtown jail ....

6. Who is benefiting?

7. Mandatory Minimum Sentences When government introduces legislation it takes the power away from judges to maintain flexibility to make decisions based on merit of situation Individuals with addictions issues could end up in prison for years In the US they passed these laws with a result of a dramatic increase in inmates and cost Cost to eliminate conditional sentencing would put 6000 offenders in prison at a cost of 300 million dollars

8. Money for Alternative Programs

9. The Costs of Incarceration Cost of incarcerating a Federal female prisoner (2004/5): $150,000-$250,000 per prisoner/per year Cost of incarcerating a Federal male prisoner (2004/5): $87,665 per prisoner/per year Cost of incarcerating a provincial prisoner (2004/5): $141.78: per prisoner/per day The cost of alternatives such as probation, bail supervision and community supervision range from $5-$25/day. Source: Juristat, Statistics Canada

10. Parole and Probation: The Dilemma Parole and probation have conflicting responsibities Confidentiality between agencies Self Help Groups Programs run by correction staff

11. Rehabilitation vs. Incaceration

12. Alternatives to Prison • Prison is not the only form of punishment or accountability. • Prisons are appropriate when dealing with someone who poses a danger to the community – most addicts do not pose that sort of danger. • Studies have shown that alternatives to prison; • can be less expensive reduces recidivism (repeat crime). • they can address offender needs that lead to criminal behavior.

13. Alternatives to Prison Mid-level community based alternatives. Drug courts – studies show that participants of the drug court have significantly lower rates of recidivism. Community service programs –positive link between community service and lower recidivism rates.

14. Alternatives to Prison Diversion programs Drug treatment and counselling Electronic Monitoring - programs strive to keep the offender integrated in the community and costs much less than incarceration

15. Prevention Programs Prevention programs in schools Prevention in the Health Care system – more awareness among professionals for early referral and treatment. Financial support for youths and family programs

16. Discussion Special thanks to the HR conference organizers, our panel members and Knox Makumbe for tech support! Thank you!