The Columbus Dispatch
I respond to the Jan. 3 Dispatch article “Prisoners still can smoke -- for now.” I, like the majority of prison employees and inmates, believe that smoking outside of buildings in prisons should be permitted and that no rule should be established that compels prison smokers to adhere to different legal standards than the public.
High health costs are not attributable to smoking-related illnesses. For the most part, they are incurred because of health care for older inmates convicted prior to 1996 who are still stuck in prisbecause of an out-of-control parole board, overcrowding, hospital contracts, transportation, increased staff (due to the 2003 lawsuit) and misdiagnosed illnesses and prescription costs, to name a few. Furthermore, inmates convicted after 1996 aren’t incarcerated long enough to develop smoking illnesses. I would guess that smoking-related health costs are much greater in the military and I don’t envision smoking being banned there.
Finally, when Ohio Director Terry Collins tours a prison, he seldom talks to inmates. If he did, I’m quite sure he would receive an earful of complaints on this subject.
If he thinks otherwise, I suggest he let the 50,000-plus employees and inmates vote on it and see who prevails.
CLIFF STEVENS \ London
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