 |
|
| In support of prisoners and prison justice activism in Canada | |
The Politics
of Prison
Current
Events & News. . . . .
home > current
events & news >article |
Community organizations call for end to new smoking ban
July 7, 2008
Stark Raven Media Collective
Several community organizations are calling for the smoking ban in federal prisons to be lifted.
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and the Native Women's Association of Canada say that the ban is limiting Aboriginal prisoners’ access to tobacco for ceremonial and spiritual purposes such as smudging.
Approximately one third of women in federal prisons are Aboriginal.Tobacco and any instruments used to light tobacco are now considered contraband in the federal prisons.
The groups are also criticizing the Correctional Service of Canada for backtracking on the full smoking ban for guards. They are calling the about-face hypocritical and questioning whether the intent of the ban is really for the worker’s health.In the original plan, guards were not going to be allowed to smoke on prison property. After complaints from guards, the Correctional Service changed the rules so that guards can now smoke in a designated area in the parking lot just outside the fence.
Prisoners are not allowed to smoke at all.
Source article:Press Release from NWAC and CAEFS
Prisoners protest smoking ban
July 7, 2008
Stark Raven Media Collective
Prisoners at a Nova Scotia prison spent more than a month in lockdown protesting the new full smoking ban.
A peaceful demonstration by the prisoners at Springhill Institution began on May 26, six days after the smoking ban came into effect.
Prisoners refused to work and attend programs and spent almost all their time locked in their cells.The prisoners and prison authorities negotiated an end to the lockdown.
The smoking ban, that means prisoners can’t smoke at all, is still in effect. It is unclear what, if any, changes were agreed upon in negotiations.
Source Articles:
www.amherstdaily.com
www.capebretonpost.com
Smoking Ban comes to federal prisons
May 12, 2008
Stark Raven Media Collective
A total smoking ban at all federal prisons is currently being phased in.
Maximum-security prisons went smoke free last week. Medium and minimum security prisons will be phased in over the next month.An indoor smoking ban has been in place federal prisons for almost two years. The new rules prevent prisoners, visitors and staff from smoking anywhere on prison property including outside.
The Correctional Service of Canada argues that full ban is necessary because of health issues and because of problems enforcing the indoor ban.All provinces, except Quebec, have full smoking bans in place.
Earlier this year, the Quebec government was forced to reverse a full smoking ban in its prisons after a riot at one of the provincial jails.Nearly 3/4 of all prisoners are smokers. This leaves 9000 smokers in the system with nowhere to light up.
Ex-prisoner Glenn Flett is concerned the ban may create a "desperate situation" inside federal prisons.He says many of the lifers have been smoking for 25 years and are just not going to accept the new rules.
Flett is also concerned about the long-term impact of the ban. He says that tobacco is already used as currency in prison and that banning it will only increase its value in the prison black market.Under the new restrictions, tobacco as well as lighters and matches will be considered contraband. The penalty for being caught ranges from a warning and loss of privileges to a fine or up to 30 days in segregation.
Prisoners have been receiving free educational materials as well as smoking cessation drugs and patches. But they will soon have to pay for these on their own.The guards' union has been lobbying for a full smoking ban and praised the decision. The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers says that prisoners are still smoking inside and it is a working hazard.
Prisoner advocates are critical of the decision.Barbara Hill, with the John Howard Society of Ontario, says that quitting smoking can be a lot more difficult for someone living in a prison than on the outside. Life on the inside is stressful and there is not a lot to preoccupy a person.
She pointed out that there has been a drastic cutback in meaningful activities and opportunities available to prisoners in that last 30 years. This has mostly been due to so called security concerns.Source Articles:
canada.com
canada.com
www.gravenhurstbanner.com
winnipegsun.com
www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com