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Ohio institutions will go tobacco free on March 1; union opposes policy change
By Phil Trexler
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 02, 2008
They are as much a part of prison lore as striped uniforms and the sound of tin cups raking across cell bars.
For decades, inmates have reached for a cigarette, some out of a pack of Marlboros, some rolled by hand with Bugler papers.
To many, it makes hard time a little easier to pass. To others, it was a way to barter.
But as society moves away from tobacco, so, too, are prisoners. In Ohio, prisoners and their guards have been preparing since September to kick the habit for good, whether they like it or not.
Come March 1, all of the state's 32 institutions will be tobacco free. No cigarettes, no snuff, no chew, indoors or out.
Predictably, the policy change is being greeted with mixed reactions.
Chris Mabe is a corrections counselor at the Lorain Correctional Institution and vice president of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, which represents most of those who work inside the prison.
Mabe said the membership is concerned about the effects on a reduced staff, as well as the rights of guards and inmates co-existing in a high-stress environment.
''It's going to be a major shift in the way that we've been doing things,'' he said. ''We've been through a lot of change as it is. Sometimes change is necessary, but sometimes it is also drastic.''
The ban extends to prison guards, as well. Even outside the walls, the guards will have to wait until they leave the parking lot before firing one up.
Tobacco, in fact, will be treated as contraband. It cannot be possessed by anyone — inmates, guards, administrators or visitors — inside the prison gate.
About 70 percent of Ohio's 51,000 inmates use tobacco, and another 25 percent of the state's prison staff do the same.
Terry Collins, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, said the move is necessary for medical, economic and legal reasons.
With such a large percentage of inmate smokers, medical costs for Ohio's prisons approach $200 million a year. The prison system's annual budget is about $1.7 billion.
Legally, inmates have sued the state over secondhand smoke and some have raised questions on whether voter-approved smoking bans should extend to prisons.
In addition, the Ohio prison system is under a federal order to improve its delivery of health care.
Without the burden of tobacco, Collins believes the state will have healthier inmates, easing the burden on the prison's medical facilities.
Collins concedes it will not be a seamless transition. However, he said, since the policy was announced, the majority of inmates he has talked with have applauded the move. Classes and counseling to help inmates and staff through the transition are being offered.
''There will probably be a few bumps in the road,'' he said. ''[and] they might grumble a bit, but they will get in line with the policy and move forward. We think it's the right thing to do.''
Wider trend
The smoke-free movement has been sweeping U.S. prisons over the past decade. A survey conducted across the country by a state corrections committee found that 34 prison systems, including state and federal facilities and the country's five largest jails, are already tobacco free. Two others are making the transition.
In Ohio, at least 75 of 91 jails are smoke free. That list includes the Summit County Jail, where no smoking is permitted.
The prison committee, made up of wardens and deputy wardens and created in February 2007, recommended the tobacco-free policy. Collins mulled the suggestion for 10 months before penning his memo.
The push toward a smoke-free prison environment began to take hold in the 1990s, when prisons were forced to offer smoke-free space in dorms and cellblocks.
For about eight years, smoking has been banned at the Ohio State Penitentiary, a maximum-security facility, as well as at the state's Corrections Medical Center in Columbus.
It's been more than three years since inmates were banned from smoking in cells or prison blocks. All inmate smoking is done outside on prison grounds. For now.
Concerns about ban
Former prison director Reginald Wilkinson voiced concern over an all-out ban when asked in 2004. He said he feared policing tobacco use would only add to a laundry list of contraband and further strain staff.
Mabe agrees. He said staffing is low thanks to budget cuts and the inmate population is higher than ever.
The ban, which he said was ''dumped in our laps,'' has created concerns over taxing an overworked staff. He said the indoor smoking ban was phased in over 18 months, while the no-tobacco ban will take place in about six months.
Collins said the policy change didn't appear from thin air and was the source of rumors for many months before it was announced. He said the department will work with the union to help the transition.
''I've been in this business for 32 years,'' he said, ''I've always been a firm believer that if you give people an opportunity to know change is coming and then work on implementing that change, people will come in compliance with that change.''
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
They are as much a part of prison lore as striped uniforms and the sound of tin cups raking across cell bars.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:46 AM, 11/02/2008
Isn't there something in the Constitution about "cruel and unusual" punishment?
Dalton Ave, Henderson, NV
Posted 07:55 AM, 11/02/2008
@Bob... there sure is... I think this action gets rid of that cruel and unusual element of subjecting another to your second hand smoke.
- Uncle Ed
Stow, OH
Posted 10:43 AM, 11/02/2008
Drugs are illegal too,but they still get all they want in there and this will be no different .Just another piece of contraband that the guards will have to look for.
Posted 11:38 AM, 11/02/2008
I am in favor of limiting/banning inmate tobacco use, but what about the employees? Couldn't they have an employee smoking area outside like all other businesses have? Sheesh its hard enough to work at a prison, let the guards have their smokes like anyone else!
Posted 01:06 PM, 11/02/2008
So Director Collins says, "the majority of inmates he has talked with have applauded the move."
Really? Would he be willing to allow a survey of the prisoners to back up his statement? I doubt it. Because I doubt it's true. The article states that 75% of inmates smoke and that they're already limited to smoking only outside. Why would all the nonsmokers and over a third of the smokers "applaud" a ban that they know will raise tensions and cause problems in their community?
In almost every case where a smoking ban is proposed for an institution, a city, or a state, the "man in charge" comes out first and says "A majority support this ban!" usually accompanied by some sort of biased survey or other designed to elicit the correct responses or perhaps even just made up on the spot. My guess is that Collins' statement is no exception. Of course if I'm wrong, I'm sure he'd be happy to stand behind his words and prove it...
While I'm waiting though, I might point out that prison bans are almost universally accompanied by increases in assaults, murders, riots, fires, vandalism and other such pleasant things, all in the name of "political correctness" and supported by citizens who enjoy the idea of punishing the prisoners just a little bit more.
Meanwhile of course, as the prisoners are being properly "prepared" to accept the new rule, you can bet yer booty that they'll be flooded with propaganda from the antismoking folks and not a word to the contrary will be allowed to exist in the prison library or elsewhere.
Michael J. McFadden
Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"
WADSWORTH, OH
Posted 06:49 PM, 11/02/2008
sucks to be them-bad enough when i had 7 grand in medical tests at city hospital,i step out to the sidewalk and light one up and mr.whitehaired rentacop was about to arrest me,but up top,the patients can/do step out for a smoke without harrassment-i agree with having to smoke outside myself,but dont play COMMIES with me and dictate that i cant,outside when i can and will-hey lets fill up the courts with peeps like me,just out having a smoke your honor-my choice and isnt this AMERICA??
WADSWORTH, OH
Posted 06:51 PM, 11/02/2008
TAKE AWAY A SKITSOS SMOKES-wait and see what happens next,the mental ward will go whack again!
Posted 07:43 PM, 11/02/2008
The article states: "Tobacco, in fact, will be treated as contraband. It cannot be possessed by anyone — inmates, guards, administrators or visitors — inside the prison gate."
This is ridiculous. You are exchanging a legal product for pharmaceutical nicotine patch, pill, gum, and lozenge drug pushers. Please get your head out of the sand as quickly as possible.
Tobacco as "contraband"??? Get a grip!
It is interesting that there are actual body bags and names for people who died from taking smoking cessation products. There are NO body bags or names of people who died from second hand smoke.
Four groups have filed complaints about the scientific misconduct regarding second hand smoke (etc.) in the Surgeon General's 2006 report.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/27085565/
Posted 11:46 PM, 11/02/2008
"He said the department will work with the union to help the transition.
AND
''I've been in this business for 32 years,'' he said, ''I've always been a firm believer that if you give people an opportunity to know change is coming and then work on implementing that change, people will come in compliance with that change.''
First - who would pay union dues to a union that would lay down on it's membership and allow the ban of the use of a LEGAL product? Prisoners..don't have rights. State of Ohio employees DO!! AFSCME/OCSEA has CEASED to represent it's membership...it's CAVED in to management and here is another PRIME EXAMPLE.
Second - what moron says if you give people enough time, they'll accept change? Not when that change is forced by those trying to socially ostracize people from using a legal product (I believe Tobacco Control calls it "denormalizing" smoking). That's all it takes and people roll over and comply? Are you STUPID?
I have a better idea. Let's put those who've lied about secondhand smoke (and made BILLIONS off the laws they bought to get rich off nicotine replacement therapy) in prison with the Bubbas and Tinys who can no longer smoke. Let's see how happy they'd be having those people as cellmates. In fact, Stanton Glantz, Jonathan Samet and Richard Carmona in stripes explaining to Bubba why they took their smokes from them while sharing their cell would be priceless. Fraud lands you in prison, doesn't it?
akron, OH
Posted 10:48 AM, 11/03/2008
More rights taken away
akron, OH
Posted 11:02 AM, 11/03/2008
More BS crule and unusual punishment
Canton, OH
Posted 05:55 PM, 11/03/2008
they are criminals who cares. Do the crime do the time losers!
Posted 07:18 PM, 11/06/2008
So has Collins come out with any proof or even solid evidence to support his statement that "a majority of inmates support" a ban?
Of course not. It was lie just like all the other lies the Antismokers tell.
Smoking bans are bad laws based upon lies and deserve no more respect than the Informers and Snitches that make them possible.
Michael J. McFadden
Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"
Posted 01:53 PM, 11/10/2008
that's not right! everyone has their rights!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 12:33 PM, 03/01/2009
a crock of bs
akron, oh
Posted 06:33 PM, 03/01/2009
INMATES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SMOKE LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON.
New Franklin, OH
Posted 09:43 AM, 03/02/2009
This will cause prisons to become more violent. All the smokers going through withdrawl will be angry and probably start more fights.
