I knew that prisons see a fair (or at least surprising) amount of drug trafficking, as well as trafficking in cell phones, cigarettes, etc. Contraband. Tough to keep out.
But until today, I had no idea that mental health institutions that serve Sexually Violent Predators apparently have a similarly widespread problem with the internal distribution of . . . child pornography.
Wow.
Here's a part of what today's published opinion says about the subject:
"CSH is a
maximum-security psychiatric hospital with a patient population of 1,100, between 80 to
85 percent of whom are sexually violent predators. Because CSH is located on the
grounds of Pleasant Valley State Prison, a visitor cannot access the hospital unless he or she first passes an inspection by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
. . . Officers conduct random searches of patients and
their dormitories for contraband daily to maintain institutional security. However,
patients often dispose of items in the trash or in the toilet once they realize officers are
conducting a search. A major problem is the sale of child pornography. According to
Sergeant Duvall, CSH is 'possibly becoming a distribution hub.' In addition, there have
been assaults on (1) those 'coming forward' to report child pornography; and (2) those
who possess the child pornography by fellow patients who 'don’t like the persons having
materials like that.'”
America: Where there's demand, there's likely to be supply.