Because of the nature of confinement in congregation environments, with their limited physical space, it is difficult for people to isolate or distance themselves from one another. Exposure to COVID-19 in these settings is high and can affect both inmates and staff. Therefore, vaccines are crucial to contain COVID-19 infections. Because employees are in contact with both the general population and the incarcerated population, vaccinating employees may also slow the spread of COVID-19 in these communities.
However, in many states, employees have not vaccinated at high rates. For example, in Alabama, 26% of the workforce is vaccinated. In West Virginia, 49% of employees are vaccinated.
Can you smoke in a federal prison?
In 2015, the Federal Bureau of Prisons banned smoking in all federal correctional facilities unless it is part of an inmate’s approved religious activity. BOP staff and visitors are permitted to smoke in designated outdoor areas.
As in state prisons, inmates in federal prisons have an underground tobacco trade thanks to the smuggled products. But the inmates usually don’t buy packs of cigarettes, but individual cigarettes, also known as pinners.
Positive effects of smoking bans in prisons
Smoking is also considered dangerous and unhealthy in the outside world, both for those who smoke it and for those around them who accidentally smoke the smoke could inhale . Prohibition in US prisons is significantly beneficial to the well-being of non-smokers. Also, those who are now addicted might seriously consider using the rehab programs on offer to stop their addiction. The absolute benefits of Prohibition include the following:
- Prohibition is the ideal way to stop cancer in prisons and jails; Research has found that half of smokers die from health complications related to their habit. In addition, inmates are more likely to die from smoking-related cancers than the general public. Allowing smoking in prisons also endangers the health of non-smoking inmates, staff and even incoming visitors. Since the ban went into effect a year later, the number of smoking-related illnesses in US prisons has declined significantly.
- The ban favors non-smokers who can now breathe fresh air; it is too difficult for a non-smoker to share the same cell with a smoker. Not only is your health at risk, the air quality is also unattractive.
- Prohibition is an inmate’s first step toward rehabilitation, making it difficult or impossible for inmates to smoke while incarcerated is the ideal way to encourage them to enter rehabilitation programs such as drug and substance abuse programs take over .
- Helps stop smoking-related diseases; the ban has helped to significantly reduce the number of diseases caused by smoking.