Prison officials will
continue smoking ban

Luzerne County Correctional Facility officials say they plan to forge ahead with a ban on smoking effective Aug. 1, despite suggestions by some prisoners that there may be repercussions.

"It's tense. The air is getting thicker," one inmate told The Citizens' Voice in a July 23 letter.

Warden Gene Fischi said prison officials met with cell block representatives a few days ago to outline what will happen when smoking is banned in its entirety on Saturday. "The block reps all understood," the warden said.

As for hints of retaliatory action by the prisoners, Fischi said, "We haven't noticed anything lately among the prison population that is different from the norm."

In anticipation of the smoking ban, smoking cessation classes presented by the American Lung Association began three weeks ago, Fischi said. The classes are voluntary and are part of an eight-week program designed to help inmates and guards alike to quit smoking.

Currently, there are 505 inmates in the main prison facility and 120 prisoners in three other buildings, including the work release facility. Of those, less than half are smokers, Fischi said. "The majority of the prison population are non-smokers."

But for the inmates and guards who have opted to quit smoking cold turkey, measures are going to be taken to help ease nicotine cravings.

Fischi explained that on the advice of the American Lung Association, "munchies" will be brought out to the cell blocks three times a day. The snacks will include crisp fresh vegetables, hard candies and other finger foods.

Additionally, inmates and guards have been given pamphlets about quitting smoking.

Although the prison will be going to great lengths to help inmates stop smoking, those measures will not include providing prisoners with patches or nicotine gum. "We don't want any overdoses," the warden stated. Moreover, he said, psychologists are hesitant to endorse patches and gum as sure cures.

Fischi explained that if the prison were a larger facility, he would consider setting aside a designated smoking area. "As it stands now, we just don't have the room," he noted.

With the growing awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke, the county and prison officials have no choice but to ban smoking, insisted the warden. "We're looking at a situation where inmates and guards could possibly sue us for not maintaining a healthy environment," Fischi argued.

If any inmate experiences withdrawal symptoms so severe that it creates a medical situation, doctors will be on hand for treatment, the warden said.

Fischi added, "We are going to help out anyway we can."

Acting on persistent complaints from non-smoking employees, the Luzerne County commissioners banned smoking in county-owned facilities in 1996. However, the prison was exempt from the ban.

Last May, the county Prison Board unanimously approved a no-smoking policy. The board declared the policy would not become effective until Aug. 1 in order to give inmates and guards time to wean themselves from tobacco products.

According to a memo that went out to the prison population, inmates were limited to five tobacco products a day, effective June 8. On June 22, the restriction went to four. On July 6, the limit was three cigarettes. On July 20, inmates were restricted to one cigarette or tobacco product.

July 31 will be the last day that prisoners will be allowed to possess tobacco products.

Under the policy, tobacco products in the possession of inmates will be considered contraband on Aug. 1 and beyond. The same goes for corrections' employees who will be required to leave their tobacco products in the vehicles effective Aug. 1.

Visitors caught bringing cigarettes into the prison will have the visit terminated.

While inmates and corrections officers who smoke might find the ban inconvenient, the warden said the prohibition is expected to result in lower fire insurance premiums for the county and reduced health care costs for inmates and corrections officers alike.

Copyright ©1998, The Citizens' Voice, Inc