Samoa Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163728,00.html LOS ANGELES ? In prison, inmates lose many freedoms, and in California another one just went up in smoke. The California Department of Corrections (search) has banned cigarette smoking indoors and outdoors for both inmates and employees. The Department of Corrections hopes this move will cut health care costs by hundreds of millions of dollars a year. "It just helps reduce the risk of secondhand smoking, helps reduce the risk of tobacco illness not just for employees, but for inmates as well," said Lt. Ken Lewis (search), spokesman for the California State Prison, Los Angeles County. But the ban may not get rid of all tobacco products in California prisons. A black market for chewing tobacco has already emerged. Tins that normally cost $11 can run as much as $200 on the cellblock. "It's real, real expensive, and that's about as far as I can go with that," said Thomas Hernandez, a prison inmate. Some are concerned that the ban could cause another problem ? an increase in violence. When smoking was banned in Maine prisons, it led to a 400 percent increase in assaults. That spurred Vermont and New York to ease up on their anti-tobacco policies. But so far, said Lewis, "We have not seen an increase in violence at this prison or throughout the state regarding the smoking ban. "A lot of inmates have adapted to it very well, they have accepted it very well." California prison officials are pleased with the program's performance up to this point; however, the new policies were just enacted less than a month ago. "It just feels like a healthier, cleaner environment," said Lewis. It's amazing that prisoners have been smoking at taxpayer expens:o :o I say ban smoking from all government buildings and taxpayer public areas. Good move Ca:D :D Now everyone else play follow the leader.:yes:yes: Edited July 28, 2005 by Samoa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raum Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Good move on there part. Non-smoking inamtes shouldn't have to be in areas with smoking inmates, and ****ing hell, smoking isn't some God-given right prisoners need to have anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Good, let's let murderers and repeat offenders stay healthy so if they get released again there in good enough health to committ more crime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTUsEr Veteran Posted July 28, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 28, 2005 jesus, this is just stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdb815 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Good to hear, this should have been done a long time ago. I hope that other states will follow. Good, let's let murderers and repeat offenders stay healthy so if they get released again there in good enough health to committ more crime Or better yet, let's just kill the b@stards and get it over with. No sense in allowing them to slowly kill themselves on the taxpayers dime. :devil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axon Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Any step toward complete removal of tobacco from society is a good one. -Ax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chmsant Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 wonderful decision... they did something right for once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redFX Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 This should be interesting considering cigarettes is what's used as currency in jail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreAming in DigITal Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Good....I'm sure Californians don't wanna pay for their health care as it is...much less if they smoke 2 packs a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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