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Prison visit restrictions aimed at curbing drug abuse

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Earlier this year, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections implemented a new policy that limits prisoners and visitors from hugging for more than three seconds. The prison system also eliminated board games and vending machines from prison visiting rooms. The changes followed 2015 policies that saw greeting cards and drawings prohibited.

The rules were designed to make it more difficult for visitors to smuggle drugs to inmates.

In other states, even stricter policies have been put into place to combat drug smuggling. Prisoners in Virginia can only receive photocopies of their mail, not the original documents. They also have to undergo a full wardrobe change, including changing underwear in full view of corrections staff, after every visit. And in Maryland, the state actually eliminated coverage of Suboxone strips from the Medicaid program, to try to stop the drug from finding its way into prisons.

Learn more about other issues impacting prisons in New Hampshire.

Problem drugs

Illegal drugs continue to be an issue in prisons, both in New Hampshire and in other areas of the United States. Suboxone, an opioid drug that comes in the form of paper-thin strips, has been particularly hard for corrections officials to eradicate.

Around 80% of prisoners in New Hampshire have a history of drug abuse. This January, a spate of overdoses and the death of one prisoner in Concord raised additional concern about the issue.

A successful policy?

In 2016, 27% of prisoners tested for drugs turned up a positive result. However, since the implementation of the new rules, positive drug tests are now down to 11%.

Supporters of the new rules argue they’re necessary to save lives and prevent rioting or violence between prisoners.

“We are responding to a serious situation. We try to be open and allow prisoners as many privileges as we can, but when they start abusing those privileges we have to take action.”

- Jeff Lyons, NH Department of Corrections

Protests and outrage

Prisoners were outraged by the most recent changes, going on a hunger strike in one facility and rioting in another. They argue that addicts will still find ways to get their hands on drugs, and that the rules therefore punish the many needlessly for the crimes of a few.  

Other advocates point out that the rules focus on visitors, rather than prison staff.

“The vast majority of correctional officers don’t smuggle in drugs, but the vast majority of visitors don’t either. It doesn’t make sense to only go after one group.”

- Alex Friedmann, Human Rights Defense Center

Was New Hampshire right to pass new restrictions on inmate visits to curb drug smuggling? Why or why not? Join the discussion and have your say.

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