Diseases Rife in Prisons.

The purpose of sending offenders to a term in prison is supposed to be rehabilitation so that they emerge conditioned to re-enter society.  Unfortunately, the prison system is infiltrated with drugs and those dependent on Ice seem to have no trouble continuing to gain access.  The " law of supply and demand " applies.  It is estimated that at least fifteen percent of prisoners continue to use Ice behind bars.

In the civil society from which those prisoners came we ensure that there is a ready supply of clean sterile needles for use by drug users.  That is to try and stem the spread of blood borne diseases that are so rife amongst drug users.  Surprisingly, that is implacably opposed by the prison authorities. Instead, prisoners are supplied with a disinfectant called " Fincol " to clean the needles circulating within the prison system and this is dubious in achieving that aim.

Quite apart from the continued use of drugs, the prison system is a cesspool of hepatitis C contamination. About thirty percent of prisoners have hepatitis C compared with one percent in the civilian population.   That is not surprising when at least ten prisoners share the contraband needles circulating within the prison system.

Justice Health New South Wales, the government agency in charge of prisoners health needs is pushing for sterile needles to be available to stem the spread of blood borne viruses as well as bacterial infections.  There is no doubt that prisoners can access any drug they want if they are prepared to pay the right price, the enquiry was told.

Corrective Services remain opposed to the supply of sterile needles and this runs contrary to experience overseas.  Not only does the UN support giving clean needles to prisoners but where this has been implemented prison authorities soon find the procedure acceptable.

This refusal seems to be consistent with the attitude towards drugs generally present in the prison system.   Even those held on remand are denied  access to rehabilitation services as are prisoners ending their sentences and leaving prison for life in the general community.  An obvious opportunity exists for drug rehabilitation when prisoners are forced to endure the close supervision that exists within a jail.

The fact that a detergent supposedly capable of  cleansing needles is made available is an admission that drug use is present in the prison system.  This refusal to supply sterile needles does nothing to stem drug use within prisons  other to ensure that most users will leave corrective services with life threatening diseases.

That sounds suspiciously like the return of the death penalty - by other means !