Hot Topic (8/25): Should prisoners be allowed to smoke?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 From NYTimes: 

A government official says smoking has been banned, at least temporarily, at a prison where several buildings were burned down during an inmate riot. The justice and public safety secretary, J. Michael Brown, said no cigarettes, matches or lighters had been allowed at Northpoint Training Center in Burgin since the riot on Friday night. Eight guards and eight inmates were injured in the melee. Seven hundred of the 1,200 inmates had been moved.

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Should prisoners be allowed to smoke?

Should they be allowed any luxury items at all? 

What do you think? 

[Alison_C]

I'm just going to say that I would not want to be the one to take away their cigarettes.

[mamapotter]

No, prison is for punishment.  Take away everything!  When my kids are grounded I take away the things they like as punishment.  Why should prisoners get to keep their luxuries?

[mamaof2angles]

exactly. and so what if they smoke??  they already get free education and weight lifting and cable tv so whats the diff??

Quoting Alison_C:

I'm just going to say that I would not want to be the one to take away their cigarettes.

[SillyJessi]

yes, and in the vein of "compromise," limit to 3 a day and have the guard light it for them.

i like what pp said, "i wouldn't want to be the one to take their cigs"

[morningdove831]

Quoting mamapotter:

No, prison is for punishment.  Take away everything!  When my kids are grounded I take away the things they like as punishment.  Why should prisoners get to keep their luxuries?

I agree! 

[Serenity7]

It is not my place to say weather they should be allowed to smoke or not.

[resamerie]

I had to say 'other'. Difficult question. One side of me says that if they have them, and I'm not paying for them, then go ahead and let them smoke. On the other hand, taxpayers will be paying for all the illnesses that go along with smoking while they are incarcerated.   

[SWasson]

In prisons and psychiatric hospitals, the ability of guards and nurses to deny smoking privileges helps prevent people from misbehaving. If you take away prisoners' ability to smoke, you take away a simple, easy way to control behavior.

[nbr1sahm]

Quoting mamaof2angles:

exactly. and so what if they smoke??  they already get free education and weight lifting and cable tv so whats the diff??

Quoting Alison_C:

I'm just going to say that I would not want to be the one to take away their cigarettes.

 

I was actually thinking of ripping off a liquor store so I can get my Masters Degree at no charge.

[nbr1sahm]

Quoting SWasson:

In prisons and psychiatric hospitals, the ability of guards and nurses to deny smoking privileges helps prevent people from misbehaving. If you take away prisoners' ability to smoke, you take away a simple, easy way to control behavior.

Ummmm... are you saying that banning smoking will make it easier to control their behavior?

Have you ever seen someone go through Nicotine withdraws? Quite frankly, I am a psycho bitch from hell when I try to quit... mood swings, intolerance... I'd hate to see a prisoner, who may likely have a short in his wires, put down his smokes.