Ask Your Question today
Do you think inmates should be allowed to use tobacco in designated areas and contingent on behavior?
Please state why or why not in your answer.
| Yes, all inmates should be allowed to use tobacco. | 27 | |
| Some inmates should be allowed to and some shouldn't.(which ones/why?) | 12 | |
| Jails yes, prisons, no. | 14 | |
| No, no inmate should be allowed to use tobacco. | 60 |
Personally this is how I see it;
They shouldn't have access to tobacco products because of the potential health complication and who would fit the medical bills?
Smoking in buildings or confirmed spaces like a prison can affect non smokers and could potentially mean wasted money on additional maintenance of the buildings.
Also it is a great way of quitting the habit. I'm a strong believer in rehabilitation getting these men and women back into society as soon as possible, why should they burden themselves with the extra expense?
Also since this is deem a "luxury" item why should they have access to it. It is meant to be a prison not a glorified smokers lounge.
-What about those in jail who are not yet convicted?
-What about those serving short sentences who wouldn't be in long enough to acquire (or be treated for long-term) a smoking-related condition while incarcerated?
-What if those that choose to use tobacco pay extra for their health insurance?
-"designated areas", and not all tobacco is smoked
-I don't think it's effective for long-term quitting after release.
-They get many extra luxuries, if they can afford it. Have you seen what's available for prison/jail commissary? All sorts of junk food, candy and soda pop. It's pretty hypocritical to not allow smoking but allow this junk food which undoubtedly causes disease, dental issues and death. Obesity is actually more deadly than smoking.
The fact is that there are limitations this should apply to cigarettes too.
Telling some inmates that they can smoke and other inmates that they can't smoke in the same prison is only going to create huge problems. Terrible idea. In this situation either everyone in prison smokes or no one in prison smokes.
I am always in favor of allowing people more liberties if for no other reason than it will create less problems. If people are allowed to smoke in prison they should at least be required to waive their rights to be treated for any smoking-related illness while incarcerated.
The only reason why obesity is *statistically* more deadly than smoking is because today there are more fat people than smokers.
There is already established 'levels' of custody and incarceration and certain privileges that come with those levels. If smoking were a privilege it could be treated as all of the other inmate privileges are. It wouldn't *have* to be an all or nothing deal.
I don't think a waiver like that would be possible. That's why I suggested that those who choose to use tobacco could also be required to pay extra towards health insurance.
RE: obesity...I will re-check on the subject.
I don't see it as an issue at all. It probably won't make prison any more or less effective and banning smoking in prison wouldn't be a human rights issue, so I don't think it really matters whether you let people smoke in prison or not.
Personally, I think they should allow prisoners to pay for cigarettes with their own money and smoke them in their cells if that isn't the status quo already. Possession of cigarettes would be controlled, so they aren't used as currency.
The way I see it, smoking tobacco certainly isn't a privilege, so if inmates what to shorten their lifespan even more, then more power to them.
Nope. Tobacco is a privilege, and IMO prisoners should not have access to such luxury. Additionally, it's not healthful and I would question why the government would promote prisoners to partake in activities like that, be it smoking, drinking, or even eating only junk food. Also, I can see how it would cause an inequality in "classes" or start altercations due to which inmate has the most tobacco. Overall I just don't see any benefit to prisoners having access to cigarettes.
no they should not, they committed a crime they should only be giving bread and water and nothing else either tobacco, smokes, drink, or coke (the drink not the drug)
in my country it is illegal to smoke in a business premises a prison is a business and therefore they should not be allowed to puff any tobacco,
I don't have a problem with it being allowed. It is kind of like the way marijuanna is with the Mexican drug cartel - It being illegal has created additional market for smugglers to bring it over here. If tobacco is disallowed in prison, it will create additional demand for smugglers to bring it through to prisoners. The guards deal with enough bullshit with smugglers as is.
I don't care if they do or they don't get it.
I would lead towards yes, simply because you have to occupy their time/minds or there will be more violence on the inside.
Hell, some prisons allow personal TVs, and almost every prison allows for board games and books.
Tax payers funding criminals luxuries such as cigarettes. Yea, that'll go down well.
The same way they buy their commissary. The same way it's been done for decades. Either someone on the outside puts money on their books or they're lucky enough to have a job that pays, or a combination of both of those.
Weed would be better for their health. In order to be able to give inmates weed, weed would have to be legalized. If its legalized, no one would be sent to jail for selling/growing, smoking or having weed in their possession. What I'm curious about is whether or not the people who were sent to jail for weed possession when weed was still illegal, would their sentences be null or would they still have to finish them?
The justice system in the US does not work retroactively like that. If you did something and it was illegal when you did it but it becomes legal afterwards, you are not "guaranteed" review or relief.
It is entirely possible that pardon and commuted sentences could be granted in some cases though.