stevesboo23
01-28-2005, 09:00 AM
Federal prisons to butt out
Con promises trouble ahead
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, Ottawa Bureau
Federal inmates could soon be told to butt out. After years of consultations with staff, health experts and inmates, senior CSC officials are poised to declare prisons that hold Canada's toughest criminals smoke-free.
Documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information show inmates have threatened "a possible disturbance or uprising" when the ban comes into force. Correctional Service of Canada is also anticipating lawsuits from cons claiming their Charter equality rights are infringed because cells are their "homes."
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, Ont.
"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 put the safety of guards in jeopardy. The union prefers a total ban 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 Canada.
Con promises trouble ahead
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, Ottawa Bureau
Federal inmates could soon be told to butt out. After years of consultations with staff, health experts and inmates, senior CSC officials are poised to declare prisons that hold Canada's toughest criminals smoke-free.
Documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information show inmates have threatened "a possible disturbance or uprising" when the ban comes into force. Correctional Service of Canada is also anticipating lawsuits from cons claiming their Charter equality rights are infringed because cells are their "homes."
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, Ont.
"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 put the safety of guards in jeopardy. The union prefers a total ban 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 Canada.