Posted on 12/06/2014 5:35:17 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The Justice Department (DOJ) is banning smoking and all tobacco products in federal prisons, according to a final regulation to be published Monday.
All federal prison inmates will be prohibited from smoking, unless they receive a religious exemption. Staff will also still be able to smoke in designated areas. The government said they are moving forward with the regulation, which goes into effect in 30 days, out of concerns of the health of their inmates.
The rule will affect the estimated 80 percent of prison inmates that smoke.
“The revised regulations generally prohibit smoking in and on the grounds of Bureau institutions and offices, except as part of an authorized inmate religious activity; and, for Bureau staff and official visitors, only in smoking areas designated by the Warden,” the final rule said. “Possession of smoking apparatus and tobacco in any form is prohibited for inmates under this rule, unless as part of an authorized inmate religious activity.”
“We intend this amendment to promote a clean air environment and to protect the health and safety of staff and inmates,” the DOJ’s Bureau of Prisons (BOP) said.
The government has been working to ban smoking in prisons since 2006, according to the rule.
Several commenters raised concerns about a larger black market due to the ban, and said the rule was unfair since it does not apply to prison guards.
“Banning tobacco products will decrease the safety of staff,” said one commenter. “The price of contraband tobacco will increase, inciting inmate security issues.”
BOP said the rule is not unfair since, “As a practical matter, smoking is a lawful activity for Bureau employees.”
“In the interests of balancing staff morale with institution safety and security, the Director has decided to allow for the possibility of limited opportunities for staff smoking,” they said.
With the new rule, federal prisons join a growing list of where smoking may soon be outlawed. Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel suggested banning tobacco sales at all military installations, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to outlaw tobacco use at every work place in the country, including construction sites, the Capitol building, casinos, airports with smoking rooms, and Major League Baseball.
The religious exemption for prison inmates is likely aimed at Native Americans, who have a history of ceremonial tobacco smoking.
One commenter argued that the regulation would create a “substantial burden” on the “religious exercise of Native Americans,” though the government decided to permit smoking as an “authorized inmate religious activity.”
Isn't that already the norm for inmates who need protection?
My dad worked in a max security prison. The Obama DOJ wants riots. There could be no other outcome unless tobacco is replaced with weed.
I support the death penalty when deserved, but to deny someone a last smoke before being executed, come on! That’s downright mean and petty.
No idea.
We banned them in the 80s in Cal Youth Authority (inmates up to age 25). No problems. A few staff smuggled them in, but cigarettes much easy to de text than pills, heroin and coke.
I was on the Mooshelle food thread earlier and they were comparing her lunch program to prison food. Not that would cause a riot.
A religious exemption to allow smoking? It’s usually the other way around isn’t it?
My thoughts as well. No matter the heinousness of the crime that got him there, when you are leading a man to the death chamber, he deserves a final cigarette if he wants one. It's what civilized people do.
Penal Peyote up the pipe proposal...... phew
Wow, Fauxahontas is sure going to gain a whole lot of friends and votes over this one.
F.R.’s resident smoke Nazi is smiling.
Pot and peyote will end up being religious practices.
Put them in a legal, but against policy choke hold.
Especially in Maine and Vermont, where incarcerated felons can and do, legally vote.
will this coincide with the removal of cable tv?
holder wants riots i guess. not that i am pro-smoker. i’m just saying since he couldn’t get race riots in st louis he’s gonna let his people go apeshite in the jails.
Yep, the guards will get rich.
And be able to exert more control over the prisoners.
For better or worse...
In other News.....Recently....80% of prison population have converted to “Indianism”...As one lawyer put it.....It's no different then a transgendered person picking the bathroom they use...Heritage or genetics have nothing to do with it in this enlightened day and age!...Its about FREEDOM and how u “feel” at any given time...
the rule was unfair since it does not apply to prison guards.
WTF???
The prison guards ARE NOT PRISONERS!!!
Two words.
Cranky felons.
But weird sex is still A-OK! ;)
Riots begin in 3...2...1.
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