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Judith Collins - Source: ONE News -
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Corrections Minister Judith Collins has confirmed a ban on smoking by prisoners which is expected to take effect in July next year.
Collins says the ban will be preceded by a 12-month campaign to help prisoners kick the habit and will make prisons safer and healthier for staff and prisoners.
At present smoking in prisons is permitted in cells and designated external areas. Prisoners may also possess lighters and matches.
Collins says the high level of smoking in our prisons poses a serious health risk to staff and prisoners.
"Studies of air quality in US prisons show that staff and prisoners can be exposed to 12 times the levels of second hand smoke than in the home of an indoor smoker."
She says two-thirds of prisoners are smokers and the most common health risk factor reported among prisoners is tobacco smoking. Prisoners have triple the rate of smoking as the rest of the community, she says.
"Quite simply, making prisons smoke-free is a responsible thing to do. It will reduce the health and safety risks to prisoners and staff."
Prime Minister backs ban
Earlier today, Prime Minister John Key said he supports Collins' moves despite warnings prisoners will look at ways of getting around the rules.
"It's a move that we've seen across other countries. Australia, for instance, has outlawed smoking in their prisons," Key says.
He says there are a number of benefits in a smoking ban.
"We know the harm from second-hand smoke, not just to the prison workers who are there, but also to other prisoners."
He says one reason for the ban is to prevent legal action being taken by prison guards and other prisoners who claim they have become sick through second-hand smoking.
Another issue is that having lighters and matches in prison "isn't necessarily a great idea", says Key.
But Howard League spokesman Peter Williams QC has doubts that a ban will work. He says people addicted to nicotine will look at ways of getting around the rules, including smuggling tobacco and smoking it covertly.
Key, however, believes the ban will work. He says it will come in on a certain date rather than being phased in.
"I think it's quite cold turkey actually ... eventually there will be a day where they'll say 'that's it, it's smoke free'."
He says smoking cessation aids such as patches will be provided.
"Obviously we're going to have to work on programmes to help people quit and work our way through it."
Prison officers have expressed some concerns about logistical problems involved in the ban, and that cigarettes have a calming influence in prison.
And Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon says prisoners do not like change.
"People coming off nicotine can be very unpredictable, can be very anxious, aggressive and we're going to have a large part of our prison population going through that and we're (prison officers) going to have to manage them," he said.
Rethinking Crime and Punishment director Kim Workman says it would be particularly difficult for new prisoners who were already grappling with drug and alcohol withdrawal, and mental and physical health issues.
He says the move was likely to cause "violence or mayhem of some kind".
A black market in tobacco was also likely, he says.
Long-term benefits
Professor Greg Newbold from Canterbury University says that while the ban will create some management problems from the outset and will be tough on staff, the overall impact will be a positive one.
"I think it will allow inmates to get out of prison healthier than they were when they went in," he says.
Newbold says the ban will create problems with new inmates coming in facing withdrawal from a life of freedom and also cigarettes.
He says "ratty" inmates will create a challenge for guards.
"It's going to be dangerous for staff, it's going to be hard for staff, I think the overall benefits are going to be positive but it's going to be tough on prison officers," Newbold says.
However, he does not think it will increase the black market but rather just add to the variety of items.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentMitchCanterbury said on 2010-06-28 @ 18:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
A study of USA prisons is mentioned in the article. Wouldn't it also be useful to mention that US Federal Prisons are supposed to have been smoke-free since 2004: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-07-21-prison-smoking-usat_x.htm The prison officers objecting to the change seem to be acting out of predominantly self-interest so they, or at least their smoking colleagues, can continue to smoke at work.
MrFiskIt said on 2010-06-28 @ 16:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
When I was trying to Kick the Habbit, if somebody told me I could be locked in a place where there was no hope of getting my hands on a Ciggarette, I think I would have jumped at the chance! Prison is about rehibilitation. May as well be for both Mind and Body.
haraldhasyou said on 2010-06-28 @ 14:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a lot of bullying from the Goverment. Let people have their freedom of choice. Smoke if you like! Use the yard! No problem for the keepers. A prisoner is still a Human, not a dog! Be well
fekkarwe3 said on 2010-06-28 @ 14:14 NZDT: Report abusive post
You are so right cueboy. Way back in the 1920s we followed like sheep with prohibition - which failed. More recently - I clearly recall California banning smoking in bars etc. Oz copied; several months later so did NZ. One exception I can think of was in 1985. Labour was in power & banned ships entering NZ ports if they had nukes. We gained respect for that. RIP David Lange. See you on judgement day.
slothy said on 2010-06-28 @ 14:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Think this is a brillant idea, prison is surposed to be a safe place and by letting them smoke we are exposing them to harm. The PC brigade jump up and down if their darling prisoners are injuried in any other shape or form and want to sue so we should take this form of harm away as well, cant have it all ways you PC idiots...