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Report: IDOC’s prison drug test found to be ‘wrong 91 percent of the time’
Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Associated Press…
As I told you in September, the Illinois Department of Corrections uses Sirchie to test items for drugs. * Back to the AP story…
As we’ve told you before, various reports have shown that moving to electronically scanned prison mail has actually resulted in increased drug overdoses. * And yet, the drumbeat here continues to electronically scan mail. I’m kinda wondering if a private company is behind this push… * WBEZ | Here’s why some lawmakers want to ban paper mail going into Illinois prisons: Drug-soaked paper is making its way into Illinois prisons, causing overdoses and staff safety concerns. But banning it could pose legal issues. * The Southern Illinoisan | Friess, Windhorst sponsor Illinois House bill to make prison mail electronic: “Instead, we’ve seen a letter from several representatives of the majority party stating that mail services should continue despite clear evidence that this is how dangerous substances are entering our facilities,” Friess said. “While we all value the connections that physical mail provides, it’s hard to ignore the very real risk to safety that comes with it right now.” * Center Square | IL Department of Corrections quiet after lawmakers address drug-infused mail: John Howard Association Executive Director Jennifer Vollen-Katz said understanding where the contraband is coming from and what kind of contraband is getting into the prison is the first step. Vollen-Katz called the banning of physical mail a “knee-jerk reaction.” “Mail is one of the ways contraband comes in but it’s not the only one,” said Vollen-Katz. “It could be staff, it could be through vendors who work on contracts with IDOC, it could be visitors. There’s a lot of different ways contraband could get into prisons. Understanding what’s getting in and how is really critical information to solving the problem.” I have tried and tried to get a response out of IDOC without success. Its silence is absolutely ridiculous.
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- ArchPundit - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:20 pm:
91% false positive? 79% false positive? That’s just fraud.
While I would guess that false positives are more likely on a test like this, presumably they don’t know the false negative rate either.
Outstanding work by Freedom Caucuser Friess in trying to stop drugs will likely only be stopping crayon drawings.
Waste, fraud, and abuse indeed.
- tada emoji - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:22 pm:
I’d be shocked if there wasn’t a prison tech company behind the pilot program.
A great background on why mail scanning is a terrible idea here: https://www.restorejustice.org/mail-scanning/
- Dirty Red - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:27 pm:
= Its silence is absolutely ridiculous. =
Silence is an awful idea in media relations, even if you have nothing new or particularly substantive to say. The least you can do is acknowledge the request, promise to follow up, and segue to key messaging until a more thorough statement is available.
Jordan’s and Jason’s exits aside, it’s amazing how many approvals and sign-offs are required among the executive agencies when they receive media inquiries.
= the drumbeat here continues to electronically scan mail. =
Plenty of Statehouse media with questions about the hows and whys, and it’s not like this is a new issue.
- Stephanie Kollmann - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:30 pm:
In addition to supporting IDOC’s push to privatize and depersonalize mail to people in prison, do the 91%-incorrect drug tests serve as the basis for issuing them disciplinary tickets and lockdowns?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:36 pm:
=== serve as the basis for issuing them disciplinary tickets and lockdowns? ===
In some cases, yes.
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:45 pm:
We traced the call and it’s coming from inside the house…
The contraband like cell phones is not coming in by mail. It’s your staff, always has been.
- BilboSwaggins - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 1:55 pm:
At any point have these drug tests been used on items that would lead to an increase in the sentence of an incarcerated individual?
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 2:09 pm:
Those are New York’s tests.
I’m sure ours are fine. /S
- HSI - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 2:17 pm:
So tired of hearing about this. Solve it now.
1) Sirchie test kits are terrible, especially for unknown synthetics and opioids. Quit buying them. These are especially inneffective for unknown substances. There is a different pouch fore every substance and its a true/false type deal for every substance.
2) Each prison needs a supply of TruNark type machines. Suspect substances, and suspected soaked paper are analyzed for all substances. It tells you if something is present and you don’t have to know what you are testing for ahead of time like the Sirchie kits. They are $40-50,000 per machine but they actually work.
3) Use ISP to set up checks of employees coming in. You will soon know who has been compromised by the inmates because they will flee, try to talk the officers out of being searched or admit their guilt prior to search. Been there, done that.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Nov 21, 24 @ 3:19 pm:
“the Illinois Department of Corrections uses Sirchie to test items for drugs”
I’ve got a stick that repels boogiemen that I’m willing lease to IDOC for $100k/year.
Got to keep everyone safe from all the threats.
– MrJM