August 30, 2010:
When the Isle of Man banned smoking in prisons the crime rate reportedly dropped, because apparently criminals don’t want to miss out on their smokes. They now have 40 empty cells.
When will the Tasmanian government, with a Green Corrections Minister (Hon. Nick McKim), ban smoking in our prisons? His fellow Green Cassie O’Connor dumped 10,000 cigarettes on the doorstep of the Liberal Party a few years ago. Yet the Liberals have had a policy for many years of banning smoking in prisons.
The Daily Mail reported:
“An Isle of Man police source said: ‘There are 200 officers on this island and anything which makes our lives easier is welcome news.
‘It has become a standing joke that when we nick someone we remind them that if they get sent down they’ll have to come off the cigarettes – their faces are a picture.’
In the last 12 months, the number of burglaries has plunged by more than 35 per cent, there has been a 25 per cent drop in the number of assaults, and the number of people caught stealing cars has fallen by seven per cent.
Domestic assaults fell 11 per cent and criminal damage offences dropped eight per cent.
The crime rate on the Isle of Man was already low, with experts saying it is down to ‘low unemployment and high community spirit’, but also that the criminal justice system takes a hard line on crimes, with even small crimes often resulting in imprisonment.
One former prisoner, who spent six months there, said the smoking ban had cons ‘crawling up the walls’ in desperation for a nicotine fix.
The inmate, who didn’t want to be named, said today: ‘As soon as you get to the prison they take your fags and lighter off you.
‘It came as a big surprise to a lot of us – smoking is something that helps people doing time stay sane – it’s something to do with all that time you have on your hands.’
He added: ‘As soon as word got round that it wasn’t a joke and that all smoking was banned, even in the exercise yard, a lot of people I know started having second thoughts about committing crimes.
‘It was something they genuinely feared. Not prison itself, but the idea of being forced to give up smoking.
‘Some of my mates have simply given up crime, whether it be stealing cars, shoplifting to order or burglary, as a direct result of the smoking ban.’
A spokeswoman for the prison said that the huge drop in recorded crime could not be ‘wholly attributed’ to the non-smoking prison, but said the non-smoking status of the prison was now a well known fact on the island.
She said: ‘The No-Smoking Premises Regulations 2007 are well known throughout the Island.”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1239209/Drop-crime-Isle-Man-attributed-Europes-non-smoking-prison.html#ixzz0xevJh33n
The Daily Telegraph reported :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6900265/No-smoking-prison-sparks-drop-in-crime.html
“It means at least 40 cells empty, as wannabe crooks turn their back on a life of crime – many because they don’t want to give up cigarettes if they get caught.”
The Tasmanian Liberals have proposed banning smoking in prisons since at least 2005. See recent comments in the House of Assembly Hansard Tuesday 10 March 2009 – Part 1 – Pages 1 – 31
“Mr HIDDING – Which is now to tell them to smoke out in the yard, instead of in their cells. What big deal that is. You are issuing tobacco to 500 prisoners out there. This Government spends millions on Quit and the Health minister fines mental health patients for sneaking a cigarette. It has people running round with cameras taking photographs of poor kids trying to have a smoke and then it fines them $25, and yet you issue cigarettes in another facility. That is just outrageous.
Mr Green – So the policy is you are going to ban cigarettes in prison are you?
Mr HIDDING – Exactly.
Mr Green – Right, okay.
Mr HIDDING – We went to the last election on just that.”
NZ is to ban smoking in prisons from July next year. The NZ Herald reported that:
“Prisoners will be given 12 months to quit cigarettes, with a smoking ban in prisons to kick in next July.
Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced the policy today, saying smokefree prisons will be safer and healthier.
Prisoners would be given information, education and support over 12 months to help them quit, Ms Collins said.
“The high level of smoking in our prisons poses a serious health risk to staff and prisoners. Studies of air quality in US prisons show that staff and prisoners can be exposed to 12 times the levels of second hand smoke than in the home of an indoor smoker,” she said.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10655022
Banning smoking in prisons has to be planned, handled carefully and well managed – or the prisoners will do bad stuff. It has been managed well elsewhere. When will the Labor/Green government do it?
• June 3, 2013: ABC: Smoke-free prison plan
