Four inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Perryville were rushed to the hospital after experiencing "seizure-like" symptoms early this week. The incident at the San Carlos Unit, which officials believe was linked to illicit drug use, has again shone a spotlight on the issue of contraband substances within the correctional system. According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry, the affected inmates have been treated and returned to the facility.
Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry initial investigation seems to point toward a persistent challenge that not only Perryville faces, but one that is a nationwide concern for prisons—drugs smuggled through means like soaked paper. The Perryville incident prompted health evaluations of other inmates in the unit, with one more individual testing positive for illicit substances and receiving necessary medical attention. As officials move to fully scrutinize the situation, ADCRR is compelled, yet again, to temporarily suspend normal operations in the San Carlos Unit.
In response to the recurring threat, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry is preparing to launch a significant change in policy, aiming to curb the flow of these detrimental substances into the hands of those incarcerated. "ADCRR has been working on a plan to modernize and digitize general inmate mail that will be rolled out in the coming weeks," stated the department in a recent release. This step alongside "other interdiction and enforcement strategies" represents a tactical shift by the department in hopes to better control and to severely limit, these kinds of incidents from reoccurring.
