Tobacco.org

Despite exemption, prisons to ban smoking  

Iowa's prisons will become tobacco-free in early January even though state lawmakers exempted the institutions in a new law that bans smoking in most public places.

Prison officials are concerned about rising health care costs for inmates and believe banning smoking will help reduce those bills, said Fred Scaletta, prison spokesman.

Tobacco historically has been an important part of inmate culture. In the past decade, however, there has been a trend toward eliminating smoking in the nation's prisons.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, with more than 200,000 inmates in 114 facilities, has been smoke-free since 2004, said spokesman Mike Truman. Surveys have shown a majority of the 50 state prison systems are either tobacco-free or have partial smoking bans.

Some observers in Iowa, though, are worried about repercussions from a smoking ban.

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Iowa prisons to ban smoking 

Iowa's prisons are going smoke-free, despite an exemption from the state's new statewide smoking ban.

Prison spokesman Fred Scaletta says officials are concerned about the rising cost of health care for inmates and banning smoking will cut those bills.

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All's quiet in first days of prison smoking ban 

Anti-smoking programs and suspected stashes of tobacco are helping keep Canada's prisons quiet so far this week as a smoking ban came into effect in maximum-security federal penitentiaries across the country.

The Correctional Service of Canada banned indoor smoking in its prisons in 2006, but the new rules mean no more smoking outdoors, as well, for maximum-security inmates since Monday.

Mid-level institutions follow suit on May 20 and minimum-security institutions on June 2.

"There are no incidents to report at this point," said Janine Chown, a Corrections spokeswoman for the region of Ontario. "We're only a day into it, so it may be a bit early to assess the full reaction to the ban."

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Prison smoking ban postponed a few weeks 

The inmates of Muskoka’s two federal prisons are getting the opportunity for a few more nicotine breaks before a planned smoking ban takes effect.

A total ban on smoking, scheduled to start Wednesday, April 30 at all federal correctional facilities, has been postponed and authorities have decided on a staggered implementation, said Annette Allen, deputy warden at Fenbrook medium security institution in Gravenhurst.

“It’s in order to allow the region as a whole to judge any potential reaction to the implementation of the ban,” she said.

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Canada banning all smoking in federal prisons 

Canada has banned all smoking in federal prisons because a partial ban was largely ignored, the government said on Tuesday.

As a result of the ban, which took effect in all maximum-security prisons on Monday, inmates will be barred from smoking anywhere inside or outside prison property, including private visiting rooms and yards.

"Since the partial ban was not working in order to ensure a safe, healthy, smoke-free environment, we decided to move towards the total ban," said Lynn Brunette, a spokeswoman for the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

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'Tempers will flare' as prison smoking ban takes effect, inmate says 

On May 20, the smoking ban will be extended to medium-security facilities, and at minimum-security facilities on June 2.

Robert Pallagi, a non-smoker in jail for attempted murder, said there could be unrest when the large number of smokers at Canada's prisons are forced to butt out, and all of them are suddenly coping with nicotine withdrawal.

Inmates are said to be three times more likely to smoke than other Canadians.

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Smoking ban to be phased in at Cdn. prisons; starts now at max security jails 

A total smoking ban is being implemented at Canadian prisons, starting immediately at federal maximum-security institutions and some regional treatment centres.

The Correctional Service of Canada, in a statement issued late Monday, says once fully implemented, smoking will not be permitted "inside federal correctional facilities, including private family visiting units or outdoors, within the perimeter of correctional facilities."

Commissioner Keith Coulter says the decision to impose the total ban came "after thorough consultation and consideration of every aspect." An indoor ban was first put in place Jan. 31, 2006.

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Today's Vote / Should smoking be allowed in prison? 

Today's Vote

Should smoking be allowed in prison?

69% Yes, in all areas

17% No, it poses a threat to the health of staff

14% Only in designated areas

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Hunger strike at prison over ban on tobacco 

Prisoners have launched a protest at the first jail in the British Isles to go smoke-free. A workplace smoking ban came into effect last month on the Isle of Man, and covers cells in the island's tiny 90-man prison.

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Five inmates continue Isle of Man hunger strike  

FIVE prisoners refused to eat their evening meal yesterday (Thursday) in protest against the smoking ban.

Friends and relatives of inmates claimed up to 16 of 32 prisoners on A wing of the Victoria Road jail were on hunger strike.

Prison officials initially said 'a very small number' of inmates were refusing to eat.

In a statement issued this morning, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that nine prisoners refused their lunchtime meals yesterday and five refused their evening meal.

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Hunger strike continues 

The Department of Home Affairs says a total of nine prisoners at Victoria Road jail refused their meals yesterday lunchtime.

Five prisoners then refused their evening meal.

The prisoners are protesting at the smoking ban which came into force at the prison in March.

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Prisoners on hunger strike 

Some inmates of Isle of Man Prison have gone on hunger strike because they can't smoke.

The Department of Home Affairs says 'a very small number' of prisoners refused to eat their meals yesterday afternoon and this morning.

While no official protest has been lodged with prison staff, the department says it's believed their actions are connected to the no-smoking policy at the Island's jail, which was introduced in March.

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• MURRELL v. Texas Prisons 

As set forth above, Murrell has presented evidence that creates a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the defendants violated his Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. The defendants, therefore, are not entitled to qualified immunity. See Rochon, 122 F.3d at 320.

The judgment for defendant Watts is AFFIRMED; judgment for the remainder of the defendant-appellees is REVERSED and REMANDED.

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Inmates can keep on puffing, for now 

Federal prisons were supposed to go completely smoke-free on Wednesday, but Correctional Service of Canada has decided to instead phase its smoking ban in gradually.

The ban will be first introduced Monday in maximum-security facilities.

Medium-security facilities will follow suit May 20, with minimum-security prisons going smoke-free on June 2.

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Cons can't escape smoking ban 

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. -- Convicts at federal prisons are getting a few more days to light up before a smoking ban kicks in.

A total ban on smoking at all federal correctional facilities was set to start today.

However, Darcy Begrand, spokesman at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, says the ban will now begin May 5, and only in maximum security.

Begrand says the Correctional Service of Canada is now phasing in the ban.

He says that's so employees have the ability to address any issues that arise more easily than if all the facilities across the country did it in one day.

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