Prison Woes: Uncovered: Thousands of Contraband Phones and Tons of Drugs in Berlin Prisons
It's become a tiresome recurrence – over a thousand banned cell phones and lots of illicit substances have been unearthed in Berlin's penitentiaries. By September's end, a staggering 1077 mobile devices had been confiscated, mainly at Plötzensee and Moabit prisons, as per Berlin Senate Justice Administration's response to a Green Party inquiry.
In addition to nearly 8 kilograms of cannabis (mostly marijuana), prison authorities busted around 260 grams of cocaine, vast amounts of stimulants, and some heroin. These statistics take a slight nosedive compared to 2021's figures but surpassed 2022's.
Frequently, visitors or those attempting to smuggle in contraband tend to evade capture. Between 2021 and current data, only 45 cases of conspirators attempting to smuggle illicit goods into prisons were reported. Drugs were found within letters or mail approximately 107 times. The usage of sniffer dogs, around 50 times a year, yielded close to 150 drug findings.
The search procedure extends beyond visitors, cells, vehicles, and mail; even electronic probes, metal detector frames, and X-ray equipment are utilized for inspection. Prison yards and other spots are searched carefully. Detailed inspections are facilitated by a "drug detection device" featuring a quick scan analysis method using a test strip.
The Greens, on the other hand, suggest allocating funding to addiction aid programs instead of investing in sniffer dogs. Legal policy spokesperson Petra Vandrey explains that Berlin's partners plan to spend approximately €50,000 on canine sniffer trains for prisons over the next two years. Considering the 35 drugs found through canines' search, this investment seems questionable, Petra opines. Better to expand addiction treatment programs in prisons and offer clean syringes, substitutes, and counseling for affected individuals.
Further Reading
- Beyond cannabis and cocaine, heroin was discovered in noteworthy quantities within Berlin prisons.
- Moabit, recognized for its high crime rate, is a regular source of contraband cell phones and unlawful substances.
- Advanced addiction treatment programs and prevention strategies are proposed in place of relying on sniffer dogs and searches for tackling drug use within prisons.
- Ongoing discussions on prison reform emphasize addressing drug issues like cocaine and heroine's prevalence in Berlin's correctional facilities.
- The sudden appearance of a lake close to a prison raised concerns about potential drug trafficking activities.
Source
Leveraging Enrichment Insights:
Investing in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs can reduce recidivism by addressing substance use disorders (SUD) in prisons. Currently, just 12% of U.S. facilities offer MAT. To improve outcomes, systemic barriers, such as underfunding, lack of qualified staff, and stigma, need to be addressed. Evidence-based practices, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) model, and motivational interviewing, can revolutionize treatment and prison deterrence strategies.
[1] The National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Drug Use and Crime. Retrieved from
[2] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Technology-Based Prevention. Retrieved from
[3] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Evidence-Based Practice: Developing Effective Interventions to Address Drug Use and Addiction. Retrieved from
[4] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Prevention Approaches and Best Practices. Retrieved from
