Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/292053
By Don Thompson The Associated Press SACRAMENTO » Nearly a quarter of inmates tested in a screening last year in Cal- ifornia had used one or more illegal substances, leading state prison officials to pro- pose increasing penalties for drug and alcohol use. Under the recommenda- tion, a first positive test for drug use would cost inmates 90 days' pay from work as- signments, and repeat of- fenses could mean up to a year of lost wages. However, inmates are paid only pennies an hour, prompting an official with the guards' union to question the proposed regulations on Monday. The depar tment also plans to standardize man - datory drug testing across prisons. While making its pro- posal, the California Depart- ment of Corrections and Re- habilitation said there were more than 4,000 drug-re- lated prison incidents last year. More stringent penal- ties for drug use would in- crease prison safety and help inmates complete substance abuse treatment programs, the agency said. "We recognize a problem with the use of drugs in our population, and the culture that it creates, and we must act to prevent the introduc - tion of narcotics while pro- viding treatment to those who are addicted," depart- ment spokeswoman Kris- tina Khokhobashvili said in an email. Nearly 23 percent of in- mates tested positive for one or more illegal drugs during the screening in June of a quarter of the inmate popu - lation, the department said. The figure could be even higher since about 30 per- cent of the selected inmates refused to be tested, even though they were promised that no one would be pun - ished for testing positive. More than half the pos- itive tests involved mari- juana, 20 percent indicated morphine use; 14 percent methamphetamines; 11 per- cent amphetamines; and 2 percent cocaine. Separate statistics show 320 prison visitors and 10 employees were arrested last year while trying to smuggle in drugs. Another 52 people were arrested for trying to bring drugs on to prison grounds when they had no reason to be there. Illegal drugs in prison reinforces the strength of prison gangs, leads to in - mate-on-inmate violence due to drug dependency, and in- creases the possibility of in- mate-on-staff attacks be- cause drugs can reduce inhi- bitions, the department said in urging the rule change. The proposed regulations are set for a public hearing May 27 in Sacramento. Final approval would come from the corrections department itself after it considers pub - lic comment. The rules would require that about 2.3 percent of in- mates — or nearly 2,800 of the 121,000 inmates in state- run prisons and fire camps — be randomly selected for periodic urinalysis tests about once a week. The California Correc - tional Peace Officers Asso- ciation supports the drug screening, said Chuck Al- exander, the union's vice president. But he doubted that losing pennies an hour would make much of a differ - ence for inmates. Depending on their work assignment, inmates are paid just 8 cents to 32 cents an hour, though a few mak- ing license plates at Folsom State Prison are paid 95 cents an hour. Smugglers have punted balls filled with drugs over prison fences and sent in drugs in counterfeit legal mail or packages, among other efforts, Alexander said. "The inmates know who it belongs to and if they steal it or don't get it to who it be - longs to, they end up getting disciplined, if you know what I mean," he said. Once inside, drugs can sell for three- to five times what they would bring on the street, he said. CAlifORNiA pRiSONS Offi ci al s: O ne i n 4 in ma te s us ed d ru gs l as t ye ar By Julie Watson The Associated Press SAN DiEGO » A 1-year-old girl who fell ill during her fam- ily's world sailing voyage and had to be rescued by the U.S. Navy has been re- sponding well to medication after showing salmonella- like symptoms, her aunt said Monday as she waited for the warship carrying the family to return to San Diego. Ly r a K au f m a n w a s checked by military med - ical personnel after being boarded onto the USS Van- degrift on Sunday morning but her illness has not been diagnosed by a physician yet, said her aunt, Sariah Eng - lish, whose sister, Charlotte Kaufman, called her from the warship. The frigate was more than 1,000 miles from San Diego on Monday and was expected to arrive midweek. Charlotte Kaufman, her hu sb an d, E ri c Ka ufm an , and their two children were starting across the Pacific when the girl's illness and mechanical problems on the boat forced them to call the Coast Guard via satel - lite Thursday. Their 36-foot sailboat, Rebel Heart, lost its steering and communica- tion abilities about 900 miles southwest of Cabo San Lu- cas, Mexico. Their youngest had already been showing salmonella-like symptoms by then, suffering from a fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, English said. A rash also covered her body. The girl had salmonella in Mexico, where the family had been living before leav - ing on their trip to sail across the Pacific. Her pediatrician had assured her parents that she was recovered and safe to travel, English said. When the symptoms sur - faced, the parents called her pediatrician and gave their daughter antibiotics, but she did not respond to them. The child was respond - ing well Monday to the new medication from the rescue crews, English said. Four California Air Na - tional Guard members para- chuted into the water and reached the boat Thursday night. The crew stabilized the girl, stayed by her side and then hopped on an in - flatable boat with the family to board the USS Vandeg- rift on Sunday morning. Au- thorities decided to sink the Rebel Heart because it was taking on water. COAST Aunt: Baby rescued at sea recovering U.S. CoaSt GUard — the aSSoCiated PreSS in this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, sailors from oliver hazard Perry-class frigate USS Vandegri (FFG 49) assist in the rescue of a family with a sick infant via the ship's small boat as part of a joint U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and California air National Guard rescue effort Sunday. By Judy lin The Associated Press SACRAMENTO » The Cali- fornia Senate has erased the names and online ar- chives of three suspended lawmakers entangled in criminal cases. The Senate removed pic - tures, video clips and leg- islative archives over the weekend involving Demo- cratic Sens. Rod Wright of Los Angeles, Ron Calderon of Montebello and Leland Yee of San Francisco. All that remains on the websites is information about their Senate districts. The three men have lost the rights and privileges of a senator, which include hav ing a Senate-main - tained website, said Mark Hedlund, a spokesman for Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. Hedlund said Monday that the removal was con - sistent with steps that would be taken if a law- maker lost an election or left office through resig- nation or term limits. He said the voting records of Wright, Calderon and Yee can still be researched through the Legislature's website, but their press re - leases and statements are gone. The public can also track their voting and campaign finance data through Map - Light, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in poli- tics. Wright was convicted for lying about living inside his district. Calderon faces fed - eral corruption charges af- ter authorities said he ac- cepted $100,000 in bribes for friends and family in ex- change for legislation, and Yee was charged with ac- cepting bribes and orches- trating weapons and drug trafficking to help pay off campaign debts. Last month, the Senate voted to suspend the law - makers. Gov. Jerry Brown has called on them to re- sign. SACRAMENTO State Senate erases websites of lawmakers 530 566 1966 Ask about cushy country boarding Free 10 minute phone chat. You decide to pay. 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