E-ciggs in Jail

[texastumbleweed]

i think analog cigarettes were going for $2.00 each on the black market when i worked the prisons....some correctional officers made some big money trafficking cigs into prison, you knew which ones they were, the ones who had nice trucks that you knew they couldnt afford on their measly pay

Washington is smoke free also and they will never let it in the prisons here. My brother in law is a guard at McNeil Island and he tells me there is a good black market going on in there though. You can get anything in there if you have the money. But like I said before some of the federal prison camps are like country clubs. They have golf courses, bowling alleys, many things you wouldn't see in state prisons so I'm sure they have their Cuban cigars in there too. Prison camps where they send politicians and celebs. They used to be in federal prisons.

 

[RedDeath5]

screw em...they broke the law by taking someone else's basic human rights away from them...give them nothing.

 

[Automaton]

Wow, I'm really shocked by some of the vengeful comments.

People can go to prison for anything from pedophilic rape and murder, all the way down to getting caught with a joint. These people are not on the same level, which is why we have different kinds of prisons, different sentences, etc.

If you think prison is heaven, then I would ask you - have you ever really TALKED to someone who's spent a little time in prison? Because I have. And it's not heaven. I've never been to prison, or had any encounter with police honestly, but some of the stuff I hear is frightening.

I'm not trying to say would should be giving prisoners easy street or anything. But wow, have a little empathy. You guys sound like if given half a chance you'd rip their arms off and beat them with them. Who's the villian, there?

Not everyone in prison is a joy killer or a ....... Some of them are just kids who made a mistake. A lot of them, in fact. They aren't all inherently evil people. Geez.

How many times did you make a mistake... and just get lucky that you either didn't get caught, or it happened to not be illegal?

Probably all of you. I know I did. And that is why a lot of people are in prison. Making a mistake and getting caught. I'm not saying they shouldn't be in prison. But the level of visceral hatred some of you are showing is just... scary.

As to whether they should have e-cigs... no, I don't think so. As others have said, too many parts can be made into weapons. They require up-keep, and a new kit for every prisoner probably. The cost would rack up quickly, and so would the creative weaponry.

I say that taking into account the way prison life is totally different from life "outside," and people who are one way "outside" can be very different in prison.

 

[DaveP]

Wow. I think a lot you don't understand how prison life really works... They're allowed cigarettes and dip, so the filter and "no nicotine" arguments are moot. AFAIK, the only prison's that prohibit nicotine products completely are Juvenile facilities. They tried to ban cigarettes from the Florida prison system a few years ago; the result was riots and officers losing their lives. As far as batteries being used as explosives, they can buy batteries from the canteen's (stores run inside the prison), although they are only alkaline it's still possible to blow them up or cause fires with them. I can't speak for every system, but in the state run department in Florida, they don't get satellite tv. Digital over the air broadcasts, complete with big *** antennas on top of the dormitory's. They get approximately 4 channels. As far as "free", i dunno that i would call it that. Don't get me wrong, I'm no proponent of inmate rights or think they should have luxuries, etc., but every inmate in my prison has a job or is physically disabled or is in confinement. I do mean every. The inmates are entirely responsible for ~99% of the prison upkeep. That includes landscaping, lawn maintenance, regular maintenance, janitorial, construction, cooking, taking care of disabled inmates, biohazard cleanup, the list goes on and on. We have a saying in the DOC: NOTHING is free in prison. Not trying to preach, just pitching in my $0.02, take it cum gratis salis.

One of my accounts was a prison print shop that had several high speed electronic printers that I serviced. The inmates mostly did rollups with Bugler tobacco. They all talked about the movies they saw and one guy told me that they could all mouth the lines in Roadhouse along with the actors since they had seen it so many times! They only had a few channels to watch and TBS in Atlanta showed all the old movies.

This was a prison in a training facility where all sorts of EMS, prison guards, police, state patrol, sheriff's deputies, and fire and rescue people were trained. The inmates were chosen by their IQ, violence ratings, and were assorted races and education levels. There were some dirtbags but most were the same types of people you see in daily life. Lots were in for drugs, credit card and check theft, and multiple DUIs. There were some who were in for murder, bank robbery, and gang violations. Some of them talked about how they would rather be in a "real prison". The guards were mostly trainees who recently graduated from the school and were gaining experience before going to a "real prison." These guys had to toe the line since the rules were fresh on the guards minds and they were being rated by experienced guards.

Yes, the inmates did electrical, plumbing, cleaning of offices and restrooms, grounds maintenance, and were bus boys in the cafeteria. They also had kitchen duties, but were monitored very carefully since the meals were prepared for students and faculty at the center. They washed dishes and cleaned and were not allowed to touch food in the kitchen. There were guards in the kitchen watching them like hawks, I'm told.

 

[Willriker]

I wouldnt want an inmate to sneak a lithium ion bomb into my pocket, or under another inmates pillow. Lithium ion batteries are actually rather dangerous in the wrong hands.

I know it was mentioned before. But, if this was to be encouraged, that issue would need to be addressed in some way. Those guys in prison are known for how ingenious they can be with what little they have. (not always in a good way)

 

[Katielynn]

Prison isn't a day spa.
I think the prison system is already too soft on inmates.

Why give them another luxury?

AMEN!

 

[Willriker]

prison is prison.

I honestly think people who say otherwise are just trolling.

 

[texastumbleweed]

sounds like Georgia State Prison/Penitentiary in Reidsville....i used to work there as a prison nurse. Georgia prisons are SO much more relaxed than Texas prisons. There is more than one reason why our slogan is "DONT MESS WITH TEXAS!"" And as an ole timey Texas prison nurse, i was SHOCKED when i first started working Georgia DOC, and saw that inmates can smoke! I was smoking outside the medical dept and one inmate actually had the nerve to ask me for a "light"! Oh heck no, back to Texas, it was, where "we dont play"!

One of my accounts was a prison print shop that had several high speed electronic printers that I serviced. The inmates mostly did rollups with Bugler tobacco. They all talked about the movies they saw and one guy told me that they could all mouth the lines in Roadhouse along with the actors since they had seen it so many times! They only had a few channels to watch and TBS in Atlanta showed all the old movies.

This was a prison in a training facility where all sorts of EMS, prison guards, police, state patrol, sheriff's deputies, and fire and rescue people were trained. The inmates were chosen by their IQ, violence ratings, and were assorted races and education levels. There were some dirtbags but most were the same types of people you see in daily life. Lots were in for drugs, credit card and check theft, and multiple DUIs. There were some who were in for murder, bank robbery, and gang violations. Some of them talked about how they would rather be in a "real prison". The guards were mostly trainees who recently graduated from the school and were gaining experience before going to a "real prison." These guys had to toe the line since the rules were fresh on the guards minds and they were being rated by experienced guards.

Yes, the inmates did electrical, plumbing, cleaning of offices and restrooms, grounds maintenance, and were bus boys in the cafeteria. They also had kitchen duties, but were monitored very carefully since the meals were prepared for students and faculty at the center. They washed dishes and cleaned and were not allowed to touch food in the kitchen. There were guards in the kitchen watching them like hawks, I'm told.

 

[NinetyNine]

Don't give prisoners any perks. They are bad people. They broke the law. This is always immoral. The law is a set of government regulations. These regulations can never be wrong, as that would mean that prisoners are not always bad people, which we just agreed is not true. If the regulations can never be wrong, the government must be infallible.

P.S. Enjoy the FDA ban. You can trust them on that one.

 

[Automaton]

Don't give prisoners any perks. They are bad people. They broke the law. This is always immoral. The law is a set of government regulations. These regulations can never be wrong, as that would mean that prisoners are not always bad people, which we just agreed is not true. If the regulations can never be wrong, the government must be infallible.

P.S. Enjoy the FDA ban. You can trust them on that one.

Thank you.

I just can't believe all the hatefulness and vicious thoughts I'm seeing, when most prisoners are arrested for relatively minor offenses, usually non-violent. Just amazing. Wow.

In fact, it has always surprised me how a group of people who are so distrustful of the government when it comes to e-cigs, trust them unconditionally on everything else.

So the government is always right and truthful and just about everything, except your particular hobby horse? Get real.

 

[Willriker]

Don't give prisoners any perks. They are bad people. They broke the law. This is always immoral. The law is a set of government regulations. These regulations can never be wrong, as that would mean that prisoners are not always bad people, which we just agreed is not true. If the regulations can never be wrong, the government must be infallible.

P.S. Enjoy the FDA ban. You can trust them on that one.

heheheheh, relitivism

d()b

 

[BiffRocko]

Wow, I'm really shocked by some of the vengeful comments.

Me too, but now it's easy to see why no one cares about the fact that we have a multi-billion dollar prison industrial complex in America which has absolutely no fiscal incentive to do any sort of meaningful rehabilitation. It's all about vengeance, punishment, and giving up on people who committed non-violent crimes, which as of 2001 comprised 51% of the US state prison population. Contrast this with something like Normay's prison system and honestly ask yourself how this attitude of discarding human beings as worthless trash is really helping out society in the long run.

I'm not saying that prisoners should be coddled and excused for their crimes, but when someone who already has problems is put into an American prison, the obstacles to turning their life around and becoming a productive member of society are increased one hundred fold.

 

[Vapulicious]

Hard to make a 'shank" to stab another fellow resident with a marlboro, add the metal from batteries and atomizer, and many of these kindly people will have these ecigs stuck in their eyes instead of mouths where they belong!

As far as the Prisons go, when people wont play by the rules "those are laws to you and I", and have rights to bear arms, with millions upon millions of guns in the hands of citizenry you have more murders per day in the streets of L.A. than a typical day in Bagdad with sectarian violence and murders You cannot compare Europe or an place that doesnt allow possesion of firearms, and say america is "disporportionate in incarceration rates. Criminals also believe this gives them the right to take from others at gun point, merchandise, money, or their life, this is when the need for prisons become apparent.

Those who think Prisons are cruel and unusual, need to look at the statistics. Many illegals from all over the world end up in Americas prisons, many of those actually have it better than they would otherwise in their native country, albeit without the freedom to leave, they have free medical, (usually better than most free americans get and by far better than their native country) meals and air conditioned shelter while they do thier time.
Along with the "revolving door" judicial system due to overcrowding, many terms are shortened by half or 1/3 of their original sentence, all this at the tax payers expense. We in America dont run our prisons as many countries do, People around the globe dread going to thier own native correctional facilities, and hope to be sent to America, where upon their release, go right back to their lives of criminal enterprise


Within three years of their release, 67% of former prisoners are rearrested and 52% are re-incarcerated.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933722.html

 

[Automaton]

Hard to make a 'shank" to stab another fellow resident with a marlboro, add the metal from batteries and atomizer, and many of these kindly people will have these ecigs stuck in their eyes instead of mouths where they belong!

As far as the Prisons go, when people wont play by the rules "those are laws to you and I" and we have rights to bear arms, which many people believe that also gives them the right to take from others be that merchandise, money, or their life, thats when the need for prisons become apparent.

Those who think Prisons are cruel and unusual, need to look at the statistics. Many illegals from all over the world end up in Americas prisons, many of those actually have it better than they would otherwise in their native country, free medical, (usually better than most free americans get) meals and air conditioned shelter while they do thier time.
Along with the "revolving door" judicial system due to overcrowding, many terms are shortened by half or 1/3 of their original sentence, all this at the tax payers expense. We in America dont run our prisons as many countries do, People around the globe dread going to thier own native correctional facilities, and hope to be sent to America, where upon their release, go right back to their lives of criminal enterprise


Within three years of their release, 67% of former prisoners are rearrested and 52% are re-incarcerated.
U.S. Prisons Overcrowded and Violent, Recidivism High — Infoplease.com

...And all you have to do to see why our prison system doesn't work, is look Biff's link above. It's because we don't rehabilitate, and people like a lot of the posters in this thread want to see these people rot. Even the 18-year-old kid who just got caught with a pill.

I don't agree with Norway's approach entirely. With what we currently know about psychology, it is impossible to rehabilitate joy killers, rapists, and pedophiles. There's no point in spending the effort, honestly. But with virtually any other kind of criminal, rehab it possible.

And thus, Norway has a 20% re-incarceration rate, to our 67%.

It's almost delusion to say American prisoners "have it so good." They have it worse than anywhere in the Western world. Some of them get raped, beaten, and killed in prison, and sometimes the guards don't even care or do anything to stop it.

If what you're saying is true, all these criminals would be going to Norway, not the US.

You believing that is the reason why 67% of criminals re-offend. Because you want them to stay in prison. You believe anyone who breaks the law, regardless of what law it is or how minor, is a dirt bag.

I challenge you to find anyone on earth who hasn't knowingly broken a law at some point in time.

 

[donnakaren]

I totally agree!!

Prison isn't a day spa.
I think the prison system is already too soft on inmates.

Why give them another luxury?

 

[BiffRocko]

Many illegals from all over the world end up in Americas prisons, many of those actually have it better than they would otherwise in their native country, albeit without the freedom to leave, they have free medical, (usually better than most free americans get and by far better than their native country) meals and air conditioned shelter while they do thier time.

I'm sorry, but you are off you're friggin' rocker! You've obviously never spent any time locked up.

I have. An entire 24 hours in a county jail, the absolute worst 24 hours of my life. It's a completely dehumanizing experience. I couldn't imagine spending years in those types conditions, especially considering that jails are generally considered safer because people are either doing short time and just want to get out or are waiting to make bail or go to trial.

Edit: This guy explains the experience pretty well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yXO4wh46vM

 

[Vapulicious]

no, i havent, but served USAF for 20. does that count?

 

[Vapulicious]

And im comparing 3rd world countries where its expected that you'll likely be murdered before ever completeing your sentence, then you have a 'non-existent" judiciary or appeals process, I will guraentee American prisons are soft compared to these places!

 

[Automaton]

And im comparing 3rd world countries where its expected that you'll likely be murdered before ever completeing your sentence, then you have a 'non-existent" judiciary or appeals process, I will guraentee American prisons are soft compared to these places!

Sure. But again, why would they go to the worst in the Western world, which also just so happens to have the strictest immigration/asylum policies?

Why not go somewhere more open to immigrants and asylum seekers, and with a better prison system to boot?

 

[Vapulicious]

Ultimately, you lock up bad people together they will create their own society within the walls of the prison, and that means power over others "Only the fittest survive mentality".Im sure its a terrible place to be, As guards you cant stop these people from builiding a hierarchy system unless you send them to Supermax facilities, then those will scream that its even MORE abusive, I suppose you'd let them go and as they walk out the gate, 'YOU'LL say, "be nice, dont reoffend" while everything they know before and while in prisons tells you thats not likely to be outcome. whos off their rocker?