Answer

CCJ4651 DQ3: Drug Trafficking (Narcotics in Prison)

Although prisons are intended to be correctional facilities meant to attain the goals of rehabilitating offenders, they have become conduits for the use of narcotics. Notably, prison gangs, criminal organizations within the penal system, are responsible for transportation and distribution of narcotics in prions (Lyman, 2016). Also, prison gangs have become the link between drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) and street gangs and hence broker the transfer of drugs from the DTOs to gangs in various prisons (US Department of Justice, 2015). One of the examples of drug trafficking in prison is that demonstrated by an infamous Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) video where inmates in the prison can be seen using illegal drugs, consuming alcohol, gambling and even displaying a loaded gun.

My reaction from what I saw in the OPP video is that of disgust. I was disturbed that drug trafficking could occur openly in a correctional facility without the inmates having to be afraid of anything. I am inclined to question the soundness and seriousness of the criminal justice system considering that the inmates were held up in the prison for rehabilitation or even prevent them from engaging in the activities that they are exactly engaging in within the jailhouse. For instance, the fact that the gang leader could freely record the video means that the correctional facilities are either corrupt or have failed to implement the strict policies that govern the prison and other correctional facilities (WDSU News, 2013). I am disturbed because it seems that the goal of the criminal justice system which is to rehabilitate the inmates will not be achieved if such behaviors continue to be allowed.

People from outside the prison should be concerned that such behaviors are occurring in our nation’s prison. The reason is because the public has expectations that prisons serve to instill discipline and that the criminal justice system rehabilitates the inmates to become better and responsible individuals when they are released back to society (Lyman, 2016). However, this does not seem to be the case. As such, when such people (those in the OPP video) are released back to the society, they might even become worse and engage in more dangerous offences which will endanger the security and safety of the members of the public. Additionally, people outside of prison should be concerned because of the manner in which prisons have become lawless and crimes are allowed to continue within the prison cells. Moreover, the ineptitude of the prison wardens (paid using public funds) should be a key concern from people in the outside.

If I was a warden of this prison and saw this video, I would ensure that the inmates are placed in isolation to make sure that they do not influence their peers into engaging in such behaviors such as injecting drugs, smoking others, and gambling. However, I would interdict the staff that were on duty on that particular day because it is obvious that they allowed such criminal activities to take place within the jailhouse. I would also develop a policy that seeks to ensure stricter measures are taken to prevent the distribution and use of narcotics in the prison. The policy will include the measures to be taken as well as the punishment for the staff members who do not ensure the implementation of such measures. The evaluation of the policy would be done after three months to establish whether there is any drug use or distribution happening within the prison.