"1993 Supreme Court decision: Exposure to secondhand smoke constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the 8th Amendment."
SMOKING:
Current News and Research
The Tale of Two Shifts
Dateline San Carlos 8-12-20: We just received this forwarded email.
” I was writing my mom about how great the COVID testing went at Carlos. She was concerned about my asthma caused by 2nd hand smoke and knew being locked down with smokers would bring about an attack. I was initially so pleased by the morning shifts’ commitment to keeping the Bays smoke free, that I reported my relief.
For the FIRST time, I saw a female guard march right into the bathroom and give everybody tickets for smoking! I’ve never seen that the whole time I’ve been at Carlos! At last, the administration was listening to the needs of non-smokers. My joy was short-lived by the 2nd shift’s (2-10 pm) apathy to the smog layer coming from the bathrooms and showers.
The efficiency that this Unit managed the testing was very, very good. The guards got our meals on time, and even managed to get our commissary groceries delivered.”
No tobacco sales to anyone under 21 – what will AZDOC do?
The new FDA law went into effect 12-20-2019, but fines will not be imposed for 6 months. How will Keefe, the tobacco supplier to inmates in Arizona, be in compliance? Will AZ prisons finally catch up with the rest of the nation and go smoke-free?
Keefe Employee Ignores Smoking Policy
It seems that some Keefe employees don’t adhere to the smoking policy at Perryville. We’ve had numerous complaints about a Keefe “white shirt”, Ms. Lorry, who constantly smokes directly in front of the kitchen door. This behavior is especially problematic for non-smokers with asthma, as they have to endure the smoke to get into the chow hall.
One asthmatic complained to Sgt. Goldberg who did his due diligence by warning Ms. Lorry to smoke in the smoking section. She has, by these women’s accounts, ignored this directive.
Prison Tobacco Bans Reduce Smoking-related Deaths
Originally published on AUG. 2, 2016 by Christopher Zoukis published in Prison Legal News August, 2016, page 40 "Tobacco use and secondhand smoke kill over 480,000 people in the United States annually. The mortality rate of smokers is three times higher than those who...
Exposure to Secondary Smoke Can State Claim
Originally published in Prison Legal News September, 1993, page 1 Donald McKinney was a Nevada state prisoner who filed a civil rights complaint against prison officials, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that his involuntary exposure to environmental tobacco...
Tobacco Control Policies and Deaths from Smoking in U.S. Prisons Medical Study BMJ 2014
"Conclusions Smoking contributes to substantial mortality in prison, and prison tobacco control policies are associated with reduced mortality. These findings suggest that smoking bans have health benefits for people in prison, despite the limits they impose on...
Official AZDOC policy – D.O. 109 – Smoking & Tobacco Regulations
"Smoking/vaping is prohibited within 20 feet from any building. Smoking/vaping outside is prohibited in any area which may subject normal traffic to second-hand smoke or may result in drifting smoke entering into buildings through entrances, windows and ventilating...
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