31st October 2001
The aim of this study was to explore the drug-related knowledge and attitudes of prison officers’ in six high-risk prisons in Dublin.
Economic and social development in Ireland over the last 30 years has seen the emergence of a new set of crimes, especially in the area of drugs. In response the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 was introduced. The Irish prison system began to encounter the problem of drug dependency for the first time in the 1980’s and many offenders with serious drug problems have gone through the Prison system. There have been high rates of morbidity within prison resulting from drug use. Also, mortality from drug overdose while in custody has occurred. Within the prison system, most research aims at providing new information to help manage prison populations. Prison officers have somehow been overlooked. Failure to focus on officers has undermined efforts to reform prisons.
Anne-Marie Allen B.A.
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Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.