Smoking ban considered for prisons

[Jazzy]

A ban on smoking in all areas of jails in England and Wales is being considered by the Prison Service.

A pilot is expected to begin next year, with a ban likely by 2015.

It is thought the move is linked to potential legal action by staff and inmates who have suffered the effects of passive smoking.

Campaigners warn a ban would be difficult to implement and could have a destabilising effect, with an estimated 80% of prisoners thought to be smokers.

Smokers among the 84,000 inmates at prisons in England and Wales, where tobacco is used as currency on the wings, will be offered nicotine patches as a substitute.

According to a report in the Times newspaper, prisons in south-west England, including Exeter and Eastwood Park Women's jail, will be involved in the pilot in the spring.

Inmates are currently allowed to smoke in their cells but a ban would prohibit this and extend to all parts of a prison, including exercise yards.

Former offender Mark Johnson, chief executive of the charity User Voice, said there are "greater priorities" that need addressing in the prison system, such as rehabilitation.

He criticised the Ministry of Justice for "tinkering around" with the issue of smoking, which he believes is a human right.

Source

So, the tobacco is costing the tax payers nothing. Have they thought how much it's going to cost the tax payers for nicotine patches? 84,000 inmates and 80% smoke, that's a whole lot of patches! I can see banning smoking in cells or other private areas. I don't see the harm in letting them smoke in exercise yards. I'm not a smoker nor do I encourage smoking but isn't this the cheapest way out?

What do you think?

 

[Sinon]

He criticised the Ministry of Justice for "tinkering around" with the issue of smoking, which he believes is a human right.

...why, exactly, should inmates have any rights beyond the most basic? They are criminals; they committed crimes that most likely infringed upon the rights of law-abiding members of the public.

How about ban smoking, and refuse to give them anything in return? Make them go cold turkey. It should be the same with drug addicts in jail, they're given things like methodone or whatever as an alternative to heroin. Why? Make them suffer.

 

[Nebulous]

He criticised the Ministry of Justice for "tinkering around" with the issue of smoking, which he believes is a human right.

...why, exactly, should inmates have any rights beyond the most basic?

I agree. The prison just needs to keep the inmates alive, not give them luxuries.

 

[DrLeftover]

I was still working at the prison when the smoking ban for inmates and staff went into effect.

As a union shop steward, I, of course, filed a grievance even though I have never smoked cigarettes, and was part of the group that took it to class wide for CO's and ranking officers. We got to the third level hearing, Commissioner, and was shot down in flames.

The inmates, of course, filed several lawsuits, they had their hearing, and because it has been demonstrated that smoking is harmful to human health, they lost as well.

The ban started with the sale of smoking material in the inmate commissary and the prohibition of staff and visitors bringing it inside the fence, then in a month or so, all smoking was banned and any remaining material was confiscated.

So, yes, it has been done.

And is spreading:

100% Smokefree and Tobacco-Free Correctional Facilities
July 8, 2013

http://no-smoke.org/pdf/100smokefreeprisons.pdf