Sunday, May 20, 2007

A none smoking cell please


Prisoners will have a choice of ''smoking'' and ''no smoking'' cells when the ban on smoking in public places comes in on July 1.

Cells are exempted from the ban because they are classed as an inmate's home.

Governors will have to shuffle inmates around to ensure smokers and non-smokers are kept apart and ventilation will have to be installed in cells which do not have windows that open. Officers will not be required to enter a cell if they have seen a prisoner is smoking, unless there is an emergency.

Great. The taxpayer will have to pay for this just so prisoners can be comfortable. They shouldn’t even be allowed to smoke.

I have a question. If a cell is classed as an inmate’s home then surely this means that the prison officers will have to get a warrant to search the premises? Will they be allowed to smoke marijuana in their homes?

5 comments:

Crushed said...

They shouldn't be allowed to smoke?
I rather thought you would be against this anti-tobacco tyranny.

Prisons aren't nice places. At least give them the consolation of being able to smoke in the place where they live (even if against their will) that any other human being has.

youdontknowme said...

Aren't nice places? They are given playstations and LCD TV with digital TV too.

Prisons are too punish. They should receive no luxuries. not one.

Bag said...

Prisons should be split. Those who are going to be released and those that will not be. Those staying forever should be locked in lower level cells. Entry though the roof with food, wter and waste being dealt with automatically. Those that are to be released get some sort of education and facilities in line with the fact they are prisoners. No martial arts or whatever and selected books to be read. No TV or playstations. As it is accepted that they do not rehabilitate then let's make them so they don't want to go back.

alanorei said...

A prison should be such that no inmate should ever wish to return after having served his sentence.

The Victorians had the right idea.

Ruthie said...

This is an interesting debate. I don't know where I stand on the tobacco vs. no tobacco for prisoners question.

I'm initially inclined to agree with crushed, but I see the other side, too.