Prison smoking ban !

The New South Wales government has announced that from next year there will be a total ban on smoking in this state's prisons.  Pity the prison staff who have to keep order because eighty percent of those incarcerated smoke, many times the rate in the general population.  The expectation is for a rise in tensions and tobacco joining the long list of prohibited items that serve as prison " currency ".

A ban on tobacco is already in place in the Queensland, Northern Territory and New Zealand prison systems and some civil liberties people will see this as a basic extension of the law that applies to every person's " right of choice ".    We all face restrictions on " where " we are able to smoke, but the right to do so remains a matter for each individual.   In the case of prisoners, that right is about to be withdrawn.

It would be surprising if civil rights lawyers did not compile a compelling case for allowing prison smoking in designated " smoking only " exercise areas, to avoid nonsmokers becoming exposed to sidestream smoke. A prison is the " home " of those incarcerated, even if being a resident is on an involuntary basis.

It is proposed that items such as nicotine patches will be available to help prisoners quit the habit.  The problem is that most will resent the compulsion of this smoking ban and there seems little chance of choking off the supply of tobacco completely.   All manner of drugs are freely available in the prison system and even items such as mobile phones are regularly found during contraband searches.    If the " need " remains, " supply " will inevitably follow.

The smoking ban is being sold to the public as a " health issue ".    Incarceration is an opportunity for inmates to develop a healthy lifestyle that will be to their advantage when they are released.  Unfortunately, it will do little to curb the tensions that ebb and flow within such institutions, and often result in riots or attacks on prison officers.  The meat in the sandwich will be those tasked with guarding prisoners.

Smoking rates are steadily decreasing in the general population and one of the reasons is the ever increasing tax being imposed on tobacco,together with relentless health advertising.  All forms of contraband within prisons serve an entirely different purpose.  They become the currency to pay for favours and the more illegal their nature, the higher their value.  There is a real danger that banning tobacco will simply elevate this product as desperate smokers crave their addiction.

Perhaps a more realistic aligning of outcomes and expectations might have produced a different decision !