OK, let us return from the kiddy fantasy land in which we can keep drugs and needles out of prisons and have a look at the real world.
The Greens are pointing out that a further 6 cases of Hepatitis C at the prison is a bit of a good reason to start up a needle exchange.
Those of you off in authoritarian dreamland need to remember that the inmates are going to return to society sooner rather than later and how disease infested do you want them to be?
“The facts from overseas prison NSPs are clear – none of the concerns that have been raised about NSPs in the ACT have occurred, and that includes needle stick injuries or using needles as weapons. We also know that introducing NSPs actually increases the uptake of drug treatment programs and that there has not been an increase in drug use.
“This is not an easy issue but it is one where we need to act. Sending people out into the community from prison with a blood borne virus will make their rehabilitation and preventing reoffending significantly harder. This will ultimately cost the community more all around.
“It’s time to stop burying our heads in the sand, listen to the people calling for an NSP and look to the facts from overseas – all that points to implementing an NSP at the AMC”, Ms Bresnan said.