Published: Oct 23, 2002 - 12:51:26 AM EDT
Smoking barred in Delaware prisons
By Tom Eldred, Senior writer
DOVER - Inmates in Delaware's state prisons have nine days left to smoke cigarettes.
The same is true for employees while they're on the job.
That's because the Depart-ment of Correction is insti-tuting an agency-wide smoke-free environment in all of its facilities, effective Nov. 1.
The ban affects approximately 6,300 inmates and 2,800 employees, who will not be able to possess tobacco products on prison grounds.
The new regulation shuts down smoking for all incar-cerated offenders for the length of their prison sen-tences. Criminals on death row and those sentenced to life imprisonment will therefore be expected to never smoke again.
Delaware' amended Clean Indoor Air Act, which pro-hibits smoking in most in-door public places, takes effect on Nov. 27.
Corrections Commissioner Stanley W. Taylor Jr. said the new policy received full approval from Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.
"This has been in discussion for some time in our labor-management meetings,"' Mr. Taylor said Tuesday.
"Everybody knew the issue was coming. The goal was how to do it in an institutional setting. All of the wardens discussed it. The consensus was that it would be best to be smoke- and tobacco-product-free."
Mr. Taylor said DOC officials looked at two major issues - how to comply with the state's new anti-smoking law and how to apply that to the special circumstances of the prison system.
"If you have correction officers walking around with cigarettes in their pockets, that might encourage offenders to intimidate or bribe them," Mr. Taylor said.
"The consensus was to make it a totally smoke-free environment."
According to Elizabeth S. Welch, a DOC spokeswoman, the department currently permits employees and inmates to smoke in certain designated areas.
She said employees and prisoners can smoke outside at the Delaware Correctional Center near Smyrna, Sussex Correctional Center in Georgetown and Gander Hill in Wilmington. Because of a lack of suitable outdoor areas, the Baylor Correctional Center for Women and Webb Correctional Facility, both in Wilmington, have designated indoor smoking sections.
Mrs. Welch said employees currently are allowed to bring tobacco products to work with them. Inmates can buy packs of cigarettes - ranging in price from $1.15 to $3.80 per pack - inside the facilities.
Work release and probation centers, as well as the boot camp program at SCI are already smoke-free, she said.
Mr. Taylor said veteran prison officials would remember a time 10 years ago when DOC went totally smoke-free for a limited period.
"I was a warden at the time," he said. "There was a lot of concern about it but we gradually weened the population from smoking. We actually made the transition.
"Can it be problematic? Yes. But our management knows we've been there and done that before, and it worked.
"That policy was in place for maybe six months or a year, but then it was reversed. I don't know why."
State Sen. James T. Vaughn, D-Clayton, a former commissioner of corrections and chairman of the Senate Adult & Juvenile Corrections Committee, said he's con-cerned DOC's total ban may produce some lingering side effects.
"I think there will be prob-lems,"' he said. "Cigarettes will become contraband in the prisons."
Mr. Taylor acknowledged that after Nov. 1, any tobacco products found inside DOC facilities would be considered contraband.
"Yes, it becomes contraband," he said. "And I'm sure we'll have offenders trying to smuggle in cigarettes through their loved ones. We'll be watching for that."
Deb Brown, project director for the Smokeless States Public Policy Initiative for IMPACT, the Delaware To-bacco Prevention Coalition, lauded DOC's decision.
"We're really excited that they are going totally smoke-free," she said. "We think that with support and education, there will be a healthier environment for everybody involved. We are ready to assist in any way we can."
Ms. Brown said DOC em-ployees and inmates could contact the coalition toll-free at (800) LUNG USA for assistance.
She noted that while Maryland state prisons went smoke-free in 2001, she did not know how many prison systems nationwide com-pletely ban smoking.
Mrs. Welch said DOC would offer smoking cessation programs for employees and offenders to help with the transition.
"Our food service folks will also be providing raw veggies to nibble on," she said.
She said anybody found violating the new policy would face disciplinary ac-tion, employees and inmates alike.
Prisoners could lose privileges while employees would face reprimands. Chronic offenders could lose their jobs.
"It's a bit of an inconvenience to the employees and I'm very sensitive to that," Mr. Taylor said. "But this seems the best way to go. I'm sensitive to it but it is the law.
"I haven't heard any complaints yet (from employees) but I suspect that when the day arrives, there may be some complaints. Hopefully, in the long run we'll have a healthier work environment and help some people to live longer lives."
Visitors who bring tobacco products to DOC facilities will be asked to return the items to their vehicles. Those who want to smoke outside will be asked to stay at least 20 feet away from any building entrance, Mr. Taylor said.
Tom Eldred can be reached at 741-8212 or teldred@newszap.com
