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01-28-2005, 08:53 AM
Inmates to battle butt ban
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, SUN OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA -- Federal inmates are threatening an "uprising" when an expected smoking ban comes into effect. And prison officials anticipate lawsuits from cons claiming their Charter equality rights would be infringed upon by a smoking ban because cells are their "homes."
Correctional Service of Canada spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli said staff expect the ban to be in place by spring.
Documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information show inmates have threatened "a possible disturbance or uprising" when the ban comes into force.
Charles McGahey, a three-time convicted armed bank robber who's locked up until at least 2007, said prisoners have a legal fund ready to fight the policy. But he predicts violence will erupt if authorities try to snatch a key to relieving the stress and boredom of prison life.
"Either the inmates are going to be smoking or the joint is going to be smoking," he said in a phone interview from Joyceville penitentiary near Kingston. "I think you'll see people start to smash these places up. They're already frustrated enough."
Sylvain Martel, national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, slammed CSC's "half-way" policy that will be tough to enforce and will put the safety of guards in jeopardy. The union prefers a total ban on all CSC property accompanied by a prohibition on tobacco and a program to help cons and staff kick the habit.
Provincial jails, which hold offenders serving sentences of less than two years, have adopted smoke-free policies across the country.
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, SUN OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA -- Federal inmates are threatening an "uprising" when an expected smoking ban comes into effect. And prison officials anticipate lawsuits from cons claiming their Charter equality rights would be infringed upon by a smoking ban because cells are their "homes."
Correctional Service of Canada spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli said staff expect the ban to be in place by spring.
Documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information show inmates have threatened "a possible disturbance or uprising" when the ban comes into force.
Charles McGahey, a three-time convicted armed bank robber who's locked up until at least 2007, said prisoners have a legal fund ready to fight the policy. But he predicts violence will erupt if authorities try to snatch a key to relieving the stress and boredom of prison life.
"Either the inmates are going to be smoking or the joint is going to be smoking," he said in a phone interview from Joyceville penitentiary near Kingston. "I think you'll see people start to smash these places up. They're already frustrated enough."
Sylvain Martel, national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, slammed CSC's "half-way" policy that will be tough to enforce and will put the safety of guards in jeopardy. The union prefers a total ban on all CSC property accompanied by a prohibition on tobacco and a program to help cons and staff kick the habit.
Provincial jails, which hold offenders serving sentences of less than two years, have adopted smoke-free policies across the country.