Jail Inmates Test Positive for Drugs
The Justice Department Bureau of Justice Statistics estimated that 10 percent of inmates tested positive for drugs in local jails during June 1998 for one or more illegal drugs. About 54 percent of all inmates were held in jails that tested for illegal drug use. Among those jails that tested, fewer than 5 percent tested all inmates upon admission to jail. About 49 percent of those jails that test, selected inmates at random, and 69 percent selected inmates for testing upon an indication of drug use. Some jurisdictions also test all inmates upon reentry into a facility after an absence for activities such as work release, furlough or court visit. Among the sanctions that jails impose on inmates who test positive, 70 percent usually take away inmate privileges, such as visitation rights, recreational activities and freedom to move about the facility. About half take away good time or reclassify the offender to a higher security level. Drug testing policies to detect and control drug use in jails frequently include jail employees. Forty-nine percent of the jails reported testing staff members, and 47 percent reported testing inmates. Of the 1,418 jail jurisdictions that tested employees, 70 percent said all staff members were subject to testing, including supervisors, administrative staff, corrections officers, as well as programs and treatment personnel. One-fifth of these jurisdictions tested only prospective employees, and 1 percent tested only corrections officers. Dismissal is the usual sanction against staff members. Almost 73 percent of jail authorities provided substance abuse treatment or programs for jail inmates. Self-help programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, were common, with about 68 percent of jurisdictions having such groups or providing peer group counseling or education and awareness programs. About 43 percent provided detoxification, sent inmates to a special residential treatment facility, or provided professional counseling. In 1998 an estimated 417,000 local jail inmates or 70 percent of all jail inmates had been arrested for or convicted of a drug offense or had used drugs regularly. Among inmates who had pleaded guilty or had been convicted of an offense, 36 percent were under the influence of drugs at the time of the offense. In 1998 almost 72,000 were under the influence of marijuana or hashish and 59,000 of powder cocaine or crack cocaine. (The survey asked questions about current drug use only of those inmates whose cases were concluded in order to avoid damaging the rights of those awaiting trial.) BJS reports that in interviews with convicted jail inmates, 16 percent said they committed their offenses to get money for drugs. Two-thirds of all convicted jail inmates were actively involved with drugs prior to their admission to jail. Drug-involved inmates were younger and more likely to be African-American than other inmates. About 38 percent of drug-involved inmates were white, 41 percent were African-American, 18 percent were Hispanic and 3 percent were from other racial or ethnic groups. Nearly a third were under 25 years old. Among convicted jail inmates who were actively involved with drugs prior to their admission to jail, 20 percent said they had received treatment or participated in a substance abuse program since their admission. The findings are based on data collected in June 1998 from a representative sample of the nation's approximately 3,365 jails and in interviews with more than 6,100 inmates, convicted or awaiting trial. The special report, "Drug Use, Testing, and Treatment in Jails" (NCJ-179999), was written by BJS statistician Doris James Wilson. Single copies may be obtained from the BJS fax-on-demand system by dialing 301/519-5550, listening to the complete menu and selecting document number 199. Or call the BJS clearinghouse number:1-800-732-3277. The BJS Internet site is: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs
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