Tougher measures against psychoactive drugs in prisons

The Ministry of Justice is responding to the increasing number of drugs being found in prisons in Saxony by tightening security measures. So-called new psychoactive substances (NSP), in particular synthetic cannabinoids, are currently entering prisons primarily via prisoners' mail, as Justice Minister Constanze Geiert (CDU) explained following the cabinet meeting. Children's drawings in particular are used for this purpose.

In the past year, the number of NSP finds has more than doubled to 237. "The papers are sprayed with this psychoactive substance," said Geiert. Once they arrive at the prisons, the inmates cut the paper into small pieces and smoke them. "One square centimeter is enough to get intoxicated," said Geiert.

Pre-testers test substances

NSPs are more unpredictable in their effects than conventional drugs and are also much more difficult to detect. In the prisons, there are therefore sometimes pre-testers who are persuaded by other prisoners to consume them with the promise of a free high, for example, while others observe how strong the substances sent have an effect.

Post in prisons is copied

"This is of course a situation that cannot be tolerated," said Geiert. This is why many letters in prisons are now only handed out to prisoners as copies. In addition, four special drug scanners have been purchased. They are already in use in Leipzig and Regis-Breitingen, while staff in Dresden and Bautzen have yet to be trained. The Minister of Justice wants to put this procedure on a "legally secure footing" by amending the Prison Act. The government has released the corresponding draft bill for consultation in the state parliament.

More earnings for prisoners

It also provides for adjustments to the remuneration of prisoners, with which the Ministry of Justice is responding to a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court in June 2023. In future, prisoners will receive 15 percent of the general average wage for their work in prison, which corresponds to an hourly wage of 2.14 euros to 4.09 euros depending on the job. Previously, the pay ranged from 1.28 euros to 2.46 euros. In addition, in future it will be possible to pledge 60 percent of earnings instead of 40 percent, for example for victims of crime to claim compensation or damages for pain and suffering.