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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it can’t be that a hard to keep drugs out of prisons

252 replies

Stoveding · 31/07/2018 19:33

it Shocks me every time I hear about how ride it is with known dealers inside.
Surely, if there was a proper will, it could easily be all but eradicated?

OP posts:
Tessliketrees · 31/07/2018 21:51

It’s not unlikely at all sadly

I find it incredibly unlikely that there is any widespread culture of this.

YeTalkShiteHen · 31/07/2018 21:52

I have been assaulted numerous times. Twice seriously. Imagine what it would be like for staff if prisoners didn't have their small luxuries?

That’s horrific. I’m sorry that happened to you, and I take on board what you’re saying.

On the flip side though, can you see how it is horrifying for those of us who have lost people we love to genuinely evil people to know that they are living a life which is pretty comfortable? Any luxuries seem appalling to me, knowing that he has these comforts makes my blood boil. Because he took someone very dear to a lot of us, and he did the most unspeakable things, for kicks, and then discarded her.

I’m aware I am not unbiased, neither are you. But I can see where you’re coming from, can you see where I’m coming from?

YeTalkShiteHen · 31/07/2018 21:53

I find it incredibly unlikely that there is any widespread culture of this

Widespread in what sense? I know of many families where this is the case. Are they a majority UK wide? No. Are they a majority on my old estate? Not far off it.

Tessliketrees · 31/07/2018 21:53

@XingMing

Nice was probably the wrong word. Appealing is more accurate.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 31/07/2018 21:55

ParkheadParadise

That is the punishment thpuh their right to freedom is taken away prison isn’t about revenge.

Does this help families of victims I don’t know, nothing can take away the pain but I’m sure some feel justice is being done.

sadly some press like to stir up emotions on how easy prison life is the victims of these press stories are the relatives of victims it’s cruel and unnecessary but will always get a reaction as the public want to know that bad people are suffering

BluePrintedLove · 31/07/2018 21:55

@YeTalkShiteHen I absolutely can. There is no right or wrong. One of my family members was murdered many years ago. I know that the man who did it likely has a PlayStation, gym access, a job, mates, and a hot drink/three meals a day. Trust me though when I say prison is NOT like a hotel despite these things. They really are hell on earth.

Alpacamysuitcase · 31/07/2018 21:55

Well said @BluePrintedLove

YeTalkShiteHen · 31/07/2018 21:56

Whether it’s relevant or not I don’t know, but the man I’m talking about is currently serving his second life sentence for murder.

He was deemed rehabilitated from the first custodial part of his first life sentence.

XingMing · 31/07/2018 21:57

You're right Tess, give you that one.

abitoflight · 31/07/2018 21:57

@Westworld
Not scary just a point about the impossibility of searching everything

YeTalkShiteHen · 31/07/2018 21:58

@BluePrintedLove I’m very sorry about your family member Flowers

I’ll likely get flamed for this (and I’m sorry your job is so difficult and I absolutely commend you for doing it) but knowing it’s not easy for him helps. Just a wee bit, but it helps.

Tessliketrees · 31/07/2018 21:58

@YeTalkShiteHen

There is no shortage of anecdotal evidence for a scummy underclass that encourage their kids to claim benefits or be a shit criminal.

Just pop into any benefit thread on Mumsnet and you will be gobsmacked at the amount of people that live right by some scrounger with a audio and all the mod cons.

It's kind of my point.

Tessliketrees · 31/07/2018 21:59

Audi not audio!

bigmouthstrikesagain · 31/07/2018 21:59

It is all very well from the safety of your keyboard and with no actual responsibility for the management of prisons or the safety of prison officers - to say "it is not beyond the wit of man" to solve the drug problems in prisons.

A very trite and ignorant op - sorry - I am pretty sure prison is a very grim experience, I am also sure that for some it is less grim than their life outside prison. I think drink and drugs were a big part of Victorian prison life. It always seems odd when people start referencing Victorian values as if they were successful at reducing crime or managing drugs or running prisons. That is not my understanding, opium addiction, bathtub gin, prison officer corruption, brutality, all very Victorian and not my idea of a success story🙄🤔

Without increasing funding you cannot improve prisons - political suicide to increase prison budgets so it doesn't happen - prisons are run on a shoestring and shared resources - drug dogs shared between half a dozen prison, not enough staff, not enough drug addiction treatment, not enough help for the mental health issues fuelling the drug addiction. Short sentences meaning not enough time to rehabilitate. If you take away everything then men with nothing to lose, riot. Which is dangerous, expensive and inhumane. If you want people to make better choices you need to address the reasons they commit crime - rarely are they born "bad" but they are often born into broken families, have been abused, have mental health issues are homeless, unemployed - without hope. Marginalised people are dangerous. Prisons are treated like bins where we throw out broken and dangerous people but we need them to do more than be containers if we want to actually rehabilitate people. Privatisation in prisons is what really concerns me - look at the vilonce and drug issues in American mega jail's - massive profit driven prisons - terrifying.

YeTalkShiteHen · 31/07/2018 22:00

Oh god I hate those benefits bashing threads!

I’m only going on personal experience and what I’ve seen on my old estate. I get how it happens, and I’ve argued many times that writing off entire estates and more importantly the people in them is causing a lot of the problems we’re talking about.

To sneer, and judge, and mock and demean is absolutely wrong and disgusting. To deny it happens? To pretend everything’s fine and not discuss it and work to solve it? Grossly irresponsible and socially unacceptable.

BluePrintedLove · 31/07/2018 22:01

Ye and that must be a really hard thought to deal with. Problem is, do we keep everyone locked up forever because they might do it again? The hard fact of be matter is that he would have met the criteria for someone who is rehabilitated (which is a pretty tough criteria to meet). Sadly, people fall through the cracks and do go on to reoffend. Many, many people reoffend and I saw it day in day out. I would hear 'ah miss, I told you I'd never come back. Sorry to see you again so soon' regularly. There is no solution and unfortunately, some people will just fall back in to their old ways.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to know the person who took something dear to you is hurting. I think that's a normal, human way to feel. I don't think anyone could judge you for that.

BluePrintedLove · 31/07/2018 22:03

I would like to make comment in regards to staff corruption. It happens, you can read that in the news, but the majority of prison officers are incredibly brave, loyal, hard working people who are completely broken at the end of every shift. We hate corruption as much as the next person.

ParkheadParadise · 31/07/2018 22:04

My dd's murdering scum bag didn't make it to prison. He walked free on a NOT PROVEN verdict. He had previously spent time in prison and found it easy going.
So not only did we not get justice, we have to see him walking about my home town.

Tessliketrees · 31/07/2018 22:04

@YeTalkShiteHen

To deny what happens?

I absolutely acknowledge that children of prisoners are going to have shitty outcomes which include increased likelihood of being in the CJS themselves.

That the reason is a culture of mothers telling their sons they will only be real men when they are jailed for a crime is what I am refuting.

BluePrintedLove · 31/07/2018 22:05

@ParkheadParadise I'm so sorry Thanks

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 31/07/2018 22:06

I know that my step dad had his arm broken in prison by other inmates (he was in prison for physically abusing me was in the local papers)

Does it make me feel better no it doesn’t really. Though him feeling fearful did and that is what many prisoners especially if their crimes are against children as they are often ostracized, I am not bothered about that but we can’t have vigilantes in prison it would soon get very out of control

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 31/07/2018 22:07

ParkheadParadise I am sorry that really is wrong and unfair

BluePrintedLove · 31/07/2018 22:08

@EnthusiasmIsDisturbed we can’t have vigilantes in prison it would soon get very out of control

We can't? You realise we already do... don't you? This is unbelievably common.

BathTangle · 31/07/2018 22:08

Reading this with interest as I have visited a prison in the course of my job and it was an extra-ordinarily sobering experience: I did have some idea what I was expecting but I will never forget the atmosphere. This was a calm day and both prisoners and staff were very polite and as open as I could have asked for but I could not wait to get out. @BluePrintedLove you have my undying respect and gratitude for what you do, as does the DH of the poster upthread.

BluePrintedLove · 31/07/2018 22:09

Thank you @BathTangle - I firmly believe that we are the forgotten service.