Opinion Talk

By GaLiberal

May 20, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this

Tobacco is an addictive drug and should not be allowed inside a prison. We ban all other addictive drugs even though an inmate may be addicted to them so why allow them to smoke cigarettes? Many drug addicts started out smoking cigarettes so that makes cigarettes a gateway to using harder drugs.

There should be taxpayer funded clinics and programs to help inmates stop this destructive, filth habit and make sure they come of out prison a better person. Then there should be taxpayer funded after care when they are released to ensure they don’t relapse and start smoking again. Along with taxpayer funded medical exams and treatment for the damage caused by smoking, would ensure former inmates stay clean and healthy and become productive members of society reducing the need for prisons saving the taxpayer money.

By Jerry

May 20, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

Now cigarettes are a gateway to harder drugs? I must have missed that study. That would be laughable but I’m afraid you believe your nonsense.

Taxpayer funded this and that! No thank you unless you’re the only taxpayer funding these brilliant ideas.

By beth

May 20, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this

Taxpayer fund clinics,….taxpayer medical exams and treatments…reducing the need for prisons saving the taxpayer money… are you kidding me….where is the savings? Oh that’s right that savings is now being put on funding the non-smoking clinics etc..etc.. last I researched quitting the addictive habit of smoking does not kill…does not advance to shut down organs….do we put them in long rehab when incarcerated and known heavy drug usage….no…so why would we treat a common society addiction as a gateway to put our tax dollars$$ at work….again… everything is resolved with taxpayer $ let me guess you are a politician!

Yes NO SMOKING!!!

By joyce

May 20, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

Let them have their tobacco. That should contribute to calmness behind the walls and everyone benefits if it helps keep down battles among the inmates. Many years ago I smoked and looked forward to the relaxation it brought. Wouldn’t do it now, but under the circumstances, believe the inmates should have that privledge if desired.

By JC

May 20, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

I’m already paying too much in taxes to a government that holds no fiscal responsibility to it’s customers (you and me). If removing smoking rights will reduce costs, I’m for it. However, we’re taking “government” here, so the money they save will only go towards some other liberal social program. Don’t think for a minute YOUR tax liabilities will be lessened even if there is a “decrease” in “guh-mint” spending. With that in mind, what difference does it really make (inmate smoking)? They’re only accelerating their own demise, and in this time of liberal “drunkeness” in our courts, that could be welcome way to help decrease the prison population.

By edj

May 20, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

How about taxpayer funded programs for honest, tax paying, law-abiding people who smoke? Those losers in prison would just laugh at your efforts to ‘reform’ them anyway.

By pamela

May 20, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

GaLiberal ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Maybe we should just hire them a full-time babysitter…..

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Why not, its not like they got anything to lose…as for health care, just git em to sign a waiver…smoke, drink, risky sex…should reduce the prison population somewhat…as a great woman once said “cigarettes kill, but not reliably.”

By sane jane

May 20, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Also, consider that cigarettes are a form of currency inside of prisons - used to bribe guards & protect other inmates.

What is the impact of taking away a cloistered society’s “money”?

By For Real

May 20, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Why should they not be allowed to smoke if it gives them pleasure and a form of currency? They also need their cable TV, to stay current on new and updated ways of commiting new crimes when they are released and they need air conditioning to make sure they don’t get too hot in the summer. What is wrong with you people.

I say all prisons should be run like the sheriff in Arizona that makes them live in tents and do all their own work! Why should they cost the tax payers money?

By zeke

May 20, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

PRISONERS LOST ALL RIGHT WHEN THEY COMMITTED CRIMES AND WERE CONVICTED! THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jo

May 20, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

GA Liberal has GOT to be kidding, I hope. I say let the scum smoke & when they develop cancer & emphysema, deny medical care

By Stan

May 20, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

I’m as conservative as they come, but let them smoke/dip/chew. Yes, most of them are total scum. Yes, they have lost most of their Rights. But I’m thinking going to prison is stressful enough without taking away the tobacco. Offer cessation programs but don’t make it mandatory.

By MD

May 20, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Let them smoke, could you imagine a large group of nicotine addicted criminals who are not allowed to smoke???
I think it is more peaceful for the guards, and who cares about the health problems, they obviously do not and would not really appreciate your benign efforts to reform them anyways. Besides the money that is spent on care for the conditions that result from smoking would still have to be spent if these people had been smoking for years before going into prision they are still going to have these medical issues weather they continue to smoke once incarcerated, hey you may even speed up the process=less prisoners.

By swolf4810

May 20, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Damned bunch of busy-bodies worrying about things that don’t even affect them! Let ‘em smoke!

By Been There

May 20, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Unless you have been locked up, you won’t know that overwhelming desire for a cigarette (if you are a smoker). Inmates are already on edge being in jail/prison and expecting them to withdraw from nicotine cold-turkey under these circumstances is cruel, and causes many a fight/argument that wouldn’t occur if they had that relaxing smoke. The jail/prison also makes a lot money from cigarette sales alone since they cannot be brought in by friends or family on the “outside” and must be purchased from the commissary and whatever price they choose. I say let them smoke. Put them in a smoker’s dorm or provide an outdoor area where they can smoke to their heart’s content. I have been in a smoking county jail and a non-smoking county jail, and the difference is immeasurable. The smoking jail was much calmer, whereas in the non-smoking jail, people were always on edge, and looking for ways to smuggle in tobacco. (This is especially difficult for drug addicts that are also smokers…it is hard enough to withdraw from drugs without at least having that smoke.)

By Lisa1582

May 20, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Consider that over 50% of inmates suffer from some sort of mental and/or emotional disorder. And among those “brain ill” persons they probably did not have the privelege of being “diagnosed” and “treated” by a health professional before they committed the crimes that placed them in prison. Mentally ill people will find a way to “self medicate”. Unfortunately, smoking is the most common method of “self medication”. I say leave them alone unless you can offer a better solution.

By Lisa1582

May 20, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Consider that over 50% of inmates suffer from some sort of mental and/or emotional disorder. And among those “brain ill” persons they probably did not have the privelege of being “diagnosed” and “treated” by a health professional before they committed the crimes that placed them in prison. Mentally ill people will find a way to “self medicate”. Unfortunately, smoking is the most common method of “self medication”. I say leave them alone unless you can offer a better solution.

By Fix-It

May 20, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

It amuses me how liberals are the first to impose there will on other people. Isn’t that the opposite of what they preach?

By No Smoking

May 20, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Get rid of the smoking. It’s ridiculous to even consider allowing it. Give them something more productive and intelligent to do.

Prisoners should be forced to be better people. Stop the smoking, fighting, cursing, disrespect - all of it, and I guarantee you better people will come out of prison than went in. Unfortunately though, I’ve worked with many in law enforcement and at least half of them don’t have any sense either. They don’t know how to create better people.

By Red Foreman

May 20, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Why not, they already have Butt sex!!!

Get It!!!!!!

By GaLiberal

May 20, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

I wondered how long it would take the holier-than-thou Rethuglicons to come crawling out from under their rocks. Only about 19 minutes. Typical of their intolerance and self-centered world view, they decry inmates as ‘scum’ and that they don’t deserve medical care. Yea, that’s fine until your one of the inmates and then you’ll have to swallow the hate you spew. That’s all you Rethuglicons have is hate, intolerance, ignorance, and racism. Hope you like it in prison.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And the poor treatment of prison inmates is living proof.

By AH

May 20, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

Prisoners should only smoke after they pull the switch.

By SensibleParty

May 20, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

Why not give them a choice? Smoking OR taxpayer-funded health care. The physicians’ concerns are valid. Smokers have a devastating impact on the taxpayer-funded parts of our nation’s healthcare system. All smokers should be denied taxpayer-funded healthcare. Just as all welfare and food stamps recipients should hand over their cellphones when they go to pick up their checks!

By Dave

May 20, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

GaLiberal - when they ban smoking, you go work inside. This has been tried before, when Dr. Ault was the Commissioner, in the mid 90’s. Didn’t work then, (just more contraband to be bartered) and it won’t work now. But you Liberals who want to control everybody’s life, just keep on trucking.

By Fix-It

May 20, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Hey GaLiberal, are you telling somebody else what they can or can’t do? Isn’t that against the liberal credo? Who are you to tell anybody they can or can’t do? Lets keep the prisoners clean and healthy so when they get out of prison they can find you and make you squeal like a pig?

By still hopeful

May 20, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

GaLiberal, where are you coming from? Beth, I couldn’t make much sense of your drift. Smoking is no more addictive than most chemically altered foods we eat. Those who overdo either are probably subjects of addictive, self-destructive behavior. I agree with Beth…leave them alone to smoke unless they ask for help.

By American

May 20, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

OMG GaLiberal is still with us all his Rethuglicon crap. Get a new line, please.

No I don’t think prisoners shouldn’t be allowed to smoke. It might actually be the one right thing being done in some of the jails. Smokes in the jail become a trading commodity.

Jail is not supposed to be a resort and oh by the way, taxpayers foot the medical bills for the inmates. Why add to the escalating medical costs by allowing them to slowly kill themselves at our expense with nicotine?

By Martha

May 20, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

No, don’t let them smoke! Smoking causes problems and then the taxpayers have to pay for their medical bills? I’m tired of paying for lowlife criminals and their care. Put’em in the desert with the Arizona criminals. Why do they live better in jail than they would in real life? Nope, no cigarettes.

By Martha

May 20, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

No, don’t let them smoke! Smoking causes problems and then the taxpayers have to pay for their medical bills? I’m tired of paying for lowlife criminals and their care. Put’em in the desert with the Arizona criminals. Why do they live better in jail than they would in real life? Nope, no cigarettes.

By Blind eye

May 20, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Hey American, does your car insurance rate go up due to the increased rate of accidents. If everyone who has ever caused an accident was disallowed from driving, insurance companies would find another reason to increase rates. It’s the American way.

Back to inmates and medical bills: Smoking has little to do with their need for medical assistance. Prison conditions can foster illness …and since when have many of you really cared about the health of prisoners.

By DCResident

May 20, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

But if they die quicker, wouldn’t that aid taxpayers? A better approach would be to let them smoke and not treat them. That would be a win win for taxpayers..

By Lee

May 20, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

When the prisoners come out of prison, they should be guaranteed to be free of a dependence on alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Inside the slammer they should not have access to booze, to dope or to cigarettes. If this holds true for them, in 60 days or less they will be dependence free, and this will help them, financially, if nothing else, when they are released into normal society. Besides, the way people whine for their cigarettes, it is another bribe to keep them on the straight and narrow. From the b***’ I’ve seen here, fewer people will commit murder if they find out they have to live without cigarettes until they are executed.

By still hopeful

May 20, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

We are only hearing from the non-smokers. The medical care provided to prisoners is likely resulting from injury and/or prison conditions, NOT SMOKING. With respect to what goes on inside prisons, we would be apalled to think of where our tax dollars are going. Cigarettes would be the last thing on your mind.

By Josh

May 20, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

I don’t care much about prisoners, but everyone deserves the right to live smoke free (including the prison guards). Besides, cigarettes and the related health care are expensive.