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DOJ Banning Smoking in Federal Prisons
The Washington Free Beacon ^ | December 5, 2014 | Elizabeth Harrington

Posted on 12/06/2014 5:35:17 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The Justice Department (DOJ) is banning smoking and all tobacco products in federal prisons, according to a final regulation to be published Monday.

All federal prison inmates will be prohibited from smoking, unless they receive a religious exemption. Staff will also still be able to smoke in designated areas. The government said they are moving forward with the regulation, which goes into effect in 30 days, out of concerns of the health of their inmates.

The rule will affect the estimated 80 percent of prison inmates that smoke.

“The revised regulations generally prohibit smoking in and on the grounds of Bureau institutions and offices, except as part of an authorized inmate religious activity; and, for Bureau staff and official visitors, only in smoking areas designated by the Warden,” the final rule said. “Possession of smoking apparatus and tobacco in any form is prohibited for inmates under this rule, unless as part of an authorized inmate religious activity.”

“We intend this amendment to promote a clean air environment and to protect the health and safety of staff and inmates,” the DOJ’s Bureau of Prisons (BOP) said.

The government has been working to ban smoking in prisons since 2006, according to the rule.

Several commenters raised concerns about a larger black market due to the ban, and said the rule was unfair since it does not apply to prison guards.

“Banning tobacco products will decrease the safety of staff,” said one commenter. “The price of contraband tobacco will increase, inciting inmate security issues.”

BOP said the rule is not unfair since, “As a practical matter, smoking is a lawful activity for Bureau employees.”

“In the interests of balancing staff morale with institution safety and security, the Director has decided to allow for the possibility of limited opportunities for staff smoking,” they said.

With the new rule, federal prisons join a growing list of where smoking may soon be outlawed. Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel suggested banning tobacco sales at all military installations, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to outlaw tobacco use at every work place in the country, including construction sites, the Capitol building, casinos, airports with smoking rooms, and Major League Baseball.

The religious exemption for prison inmates is likely aimed at Native Americans, who have a history of ceremonial tobacco smoking.

One commenter argued that the regulation would create a “substantial burden” on the “religious exercise of Native Americans,” though the government decided to permit smoking as an “authorized inmate religious activity.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhodoj; bop; bureauofprisons; doj; health; incarceration; inmates; nannystate; prisons; prisonsmokingban; pufflist; smoking; smokingban
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To: mylife
But smoking pole will be promoted.

Isn't that already the norm for inmates who need protection?

41 posted on 12/06/2014 6:06:24 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (The mods stole my tagline.)
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To: dforest
"There is likely going to be some all out riots."

My dad worked in a max security prison. The Obama DOJ wants riots. There could be no other outcome unless tobacco is replaced with weed.

42 posted on 12/06/2014 6:08:04 PM PST by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
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To: Drew68

I support the death penalty when deserved, but to deny someone a last smoke before being executed, come on! That’s downright mean and petty.


43 posted on 12/06/2014 6:12:27 PM PST by lee martell
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

No idea.


44 posted on 12/06/2014 6:17:51 PM PST by mylife
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To: Drew68

We banned them in the 80s in Cal Youth Authority (inmates up to age 25). No problems. A few staff smuggled them in, but cigarettes much easy to de text than pills, heroin and coke.

I was on the Mooshelle food thread earlier and they were comparing her lunch program to prison food. Not that would cause a riot.


45 posted on 12/06/2014 6:18:10 PM PST by morphing libertarian (Defund , sue, impeach. Overturn Obamacare, amnesty.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

A religious exemption to allow smoking? It’s usually the other way around isn’t it?


46 posted on 12/06/2014 6:21:11 PM PST by faithhopecharity ((Brilliant, Profound Tag Line Goes Here, just as soon as I can think of one..) c)
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To: lee martell
I support the death penalty when deserved, but to deny someone a last smoke before being executed, come on! That’s downright mean and petty.

My thoughts as well. No matter the heinousness of the crime that got him there, when you are leading a man to the death chamber, he deserves a final cigarette if he wants one. It's what civilized people do.

47 posted on 12/06/2014 6:21:35 PM PST by Drew68
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Penal Peyote up the pipe proposal...... phew


48 posted on 12/06/2014 6:21:51 PM PST by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
"All federal prison inmates will be prohibited from smoking, unless they receive a religious exemption."

Wow, Fauxahontas is sure going to gain a whole lot of friends and votes over this one.

49 posted on 12/06/2014 6:22:40 PM PST by norwaypinesavage (The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

F.R.’s resident smoke Nazi is smiling.


50 posted on 12/06/2014 6:27:07 PM PST by Graybeard58 (V.33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Corinthians 10:)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Pot and peyote will end up being religious practices.


51 posted on 12/06/2014 6:27:38 PM PST by Spok ("What're you going to believe-me or your own eyes?" -Marx (Groucho))
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To: 22202NOVA
What are they going to do? Put violators in jail?

Put them in a legal, but against policy choke hold.

52 posted on 12/06/2014 6:29:02 PM PST by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: Clint N. Suhks
WOW, the demrats are going to lose a major voting block!

Especially in Maine and Vermont, where incarcerated felons can and do, legally vote.

53 posted on 12/06/2014 6:30:33 PM PST by Graybeard58 (V.33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Corinthians 10:)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

will this coincide with the removal of cable tv?

holder wants riots i guess. not that i am pro-smoker. i’m just saying since he couldn’t get race riots in st louis he’s gonna let his people go apeshite in the jails.


54 posted on 12/06/2014 6:33:16 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: South40

Yep, the guards will get rich.
And be able to exert more control over the prisoners.
For better or worse...


55 posted on 12/06/2014 6:36:43 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The rule will affect the estimated 80 percent of prison inmates that smoke. <<

In other News.....Recently....80% of prison population have converted to “Indianism”...As one lawyer put it.....It's no different then a transgendered person picking the bathroom they use...Heritage or genetics have nothing to do with it in this enlightened day and age!...Its about FREEDOM and how u “feel” at any given time...

56 posted on 12/06/2014 6:39:53 PM PST by M-cubed
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

the rule was unfair since it does not apply to prison guards.


WTF???

The prison guards ARE NOT PRISONERS!!!


57 posted on 12/06/2014 6:42:21 PM PST by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Two words.

Cranky felons.


58 posted on 12/06/2014 7:03:34 PM PST by dangerdoc ((this space for rent))
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

But weird sex is still A-OK! ;)


59 posted on 12/06/2014 7:11:12 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Riots begin in 3...2...1.


60 posted on 12/06/2014 7:12:32 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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