When an officer puts his/her career on the line for a small illegal gain, they are in effect giving their job away. Contraband no matter how small or insignificant is contraband, and a clever inmate will trap off an officer with psychological manipulation by holding that officer’s best intentioned favor against him/her. It is that simple. For our officers who have an addicition there are venues to get treatment. Yes it may cost money, but being free of an addicition is like getting one’s life back again. To use the phrase:“Priceless!.” Further inmates instinctively recognize someone who has an addiction and, again, will work it against the officer. Our agency has a program that understands the sensitivity of the officer’s situation and gets help for them since they asked for help.

Excellent response, Mick.

Bringing contraband into the Prison is a completely different matter. I and most of my colleagues would not have any sympathy for any Officer that brought contraband into the inmates. No matter what the reason. We view them as worse than the lowest scumbag. There are many Officers with substance abuse problems, mainly alcohol but as I said there is help available. As for the use of illegal narcotics this would mean that the Officer in question would by necessity would have to deal with criminals to get them, and this would leave those Officers vulnerable to exploitation from those same criminals. Any Officer that chooses to use illegal narcotics for what ever reason, does so in the full knowledge they are crossing the line. And as such deserve everything that comes their way.

well,to continue whit you,mick,unfortunatly, if you admit and go in thérapie,we have just 66% of our salary.a lot of people need help but cant afford it. in the past 4 years, we had 8 guards who were arrested because they enter drugs or cells inside.the price to smuggle cells is $1000 for a unit, and $2000 for on package of drugs… I know, that temptation is there…will always be. but help can save a carreer and the family behind it. we want to try to do more for our people.

hello mick… nice of you to reply.

With us if the admit they have a a problem and are willing to seek help our “Service” will give them all the assistance they need from rehab centres to psychiatric consultations. All the while being on paid sick leave.

hello, I am a female officer in a montreal jail of 1300 immates capacity ( sorry for my poor spelling english) we are more than 500 guards and officer who work there. whit reflexion, I began to notice that guard aroud me have alcool, drug and some more addiction. we establish a group ( the PAP) who is a group of fellow guard and officer and is welling to listen and help them to consult, exterior help, whit financial help from our correctionnal service. we have also a detox center only for guard and police …very helping. so I want to know what is going on in other prison and states reguarding the addiction of the staf.