Settlement: NH inmates can now receive some handmade drawings "Here are my thoughts to that foolish settlement."

Tier Talk

Settlement: NH inmates can now receive some handmade drawings "Here are my thoughts to that foolish settlement." Recently, attempts by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections to eliminate possible avenues for drug trafficking have been shut down by the courts. Earlier this year, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections was forced to suspend visits after four suboxone related overdoses, one fatal, occurred as a byproduct of the inmates exploiting the visit program as a mean to traffic drugs. This was both a reactive and preventive measure that was implemented by the NHDOC in an attempt to keep the facility drug free. As you can see I used both REACTIVE and preventive. Eventually, midway through 2017, visits were reinstated with a few added limits to the visit program. These limits included hugs between visitor and inmate that last no longer then three seconds and the changing of underwear by inmates before and after the visit. Again, these limits were added to the visit program in an attempt to slow down the amount of drugs entering the facility. Unfortunately, these changes did not go unnoticed by the many critics far removed from the work these brave men and women do in the shadows of justice. Critics believe that these limits that were placed unfairly restrict the rights of the inmates and their visitors. Just as a reminder, the action committed by the NHDOC was both REACTIVE and preventive. As we move along through the later half of 2017, another attempt by the NHDOC to limit drugs coming into their Correctional facilities was overturned. An attempt was made by the NHDOC to eliminate all handmade drawings, which have been utilized by inmates to smuggle suboxone (suboxone can be smeared within the layers of crayons), from entering the facility. Again, the effort, in good intent, was shut down by the courts and ridiculed by the ACLU. ACLU went as far as saying that the "state went to far." The measures taken above may seem to be extreme, but, we must be mindful, that the NHDOC is REACTING to extreme situations. Drugs are entering their facilities and the Department is looking to make a concerted effort to minimize the drug trafficking and protect lives. When the ACLU states that the measures taken by the state went too far, in my opinion, when it comes to saving lives, I rather go to far than not far enough. Let keep in mind, the measures taking by the NHDOC are REACTIONARY. They are reacting to a threat that has the ability to take lives. If the NHDOC decided to do nothing and let the drugs continue to come in, the public would be quick to argue that the NHDOC is not doing enough. It's sad when all attempts to save lives and eliminate a major threat to the safe and secured running of a Correctional facility get overturned by those who know little to nothing about the Correctional system. They pass judgement based on what they feel at the moment with little regard towards the bigger picture. NHDOC did a great job at both reacting and preventing drugs from entering their facilities. They implemented a great plan that could help slow down major contraband from entering the facility and ultimately save lives. The actions taken by the NHDOC were needed actions based on the challenges that were presented to them by the inmate population. Instead of the public jumping on the backs of the NHDOC for the logical attempt to slow down contraband, they should be jumping on the backs of the inmate population who chose to manipulate the privileges provided. The public needs to sit back and let these professionals do their jobs. The concerns by the NHDOC relate to the safety and security of all inmates. In order to provide that safety and security, staff may be forced to implement extreme measures. Again, these extreme measures are immediate reactions to secure the safety of the facility. When these actions get overturned by the critics, it's the critics that should be the ones held responsible for the negative outcomes that will occur. For once, let staff do what needs to be done and stop putting them in catch-22 situations that will eventually lead them down a road where their powerless to any threat that comes their way. Sent from my iPhone