Prisons should be places of rehabilitation, not rife with drug-taking

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A recent report for the Scottish Prison Service includes claims authorities are turning a blind eye to drug taking behind bars.Contributors suggest “zombified” inmates are easier to control.

Drugs have been an issue in jails for a long time but it is reasonably assumed that everything possible is being done to keep the prison estate clean.The idea that bosses are aware of what is going on and letting it happen is alarming.

Prisons are not only institutions where criminals are sent to pay their debt to society.They have to be places of ­rehabilitation where education programmes play a key part in steering prisoners on to a better path in life.We have seen only last week the ­consequences of a burgeoning prison population.

The Scottish Government sanctioned an early release programme due to jails bursting at the seams.It is horrible to think that some of those who were freed early could have developed a drug habit while behind bars.It is entirely unacceptable that any drug-taking may have happened in the full knowledge of prison bosses but ignored for an easy life.Prison is the most controlled ­environment in society.