The state’s year-old indoor smoking ban is working well in Illinois prisons where inmates, who once had been allowed to smoke in their cells, have been forced to quit, officials say.
The state’s year-old indoor smoking ban is working well in Illinois prisons where inmates, who once had been allowed to smoke in their cells, have been forced to quit, officials say. Starting last Jan. 1, Illinois joined 18 other states and made it illegal to smoke in virtually every public place. That included the state’s 28 prisons, meaning 45,000 inmates couldn’t even light up in outdoor prison yards. A union representing prison workers had warned that would raise hostilities among inmates. But officials say they’ve seen few problems. And prisoners with asthma have fewer health complications. "We will have an occasional violation with an inmate, staff or visitor in possession of tobacco, but those occurrences have been minimal," Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp told The (Bloomington) Pantagraph. Prison workers can take smoke breaks in areas created near prison entrances; inmates must quit smoking. For them, there’s help in the form of smoking cessation classes and nicotine patches sold in prison stores. After meals, inmates get three pieces of sugarless candy to ease cravings. Corrections officials believe a smoking ban already in effect in county jails helped with the adjustment. The ban has also curbed complaints from inmates about second-hand smoke, Schnapp said. AP ______ Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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