THE FOLLOWING MEMOS WERE POSTED IN CMC
(
CHANGES OF THIS MAGNITUDE REQUIRE A
PUPLIC HEARING & THE DIRECTOR’S APPROVAL AFTER AN ALO REVIEW. THIS IS IN
DIRECT VIOLATION OF OUR
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Date :
To : ALL CONCERNED
From :
California Men’s Colony,
Subject : ELIMINATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
The California Men’s Colony’s
(CMC’s) request to prohibit inmate use of tobacco
products or access to smoking paraphernalia has been approved by Headquarters.
The following Associate Wardens are hereby assigned to a task force for
developing
the policy and procedure for implementation by
P. Gallagher, Associate Warden, Classification & Treatment (Leader)
T. McAlister, Associate Warden, Program Services
M. Alves-Wright, Associate Warden, Business Services (A)
D. Freehauf, Associate Warden, Inmate Services
D. Carey, Associate Warden, West Facility
The policy and procedure for
implementation must include, but not be limited to the
following information:
“ The process needs to be defined for
eliminating all tobacco products and
smoking paraphernalia for inmates at CMC, except for departmentally approved
religious ceremonies.
• All institutional
programs/procedures that may be impacted need to be identified
so that necessary changes can be made.
• An action plan with time frames needs to be developed to
include a period of
time to deplete the existing stock of tobacco products in the canteen and allow
inmates to exhaust their personal supplies.
• An informational program needs to be developed informing
and educating
inmates of the new policy, its ramifications, and the reasons for its
implementation.
• The policy will need to be
incorporated into the inmate orientation
program/handout.
• A notice to staff and the various bargaining units with time frames for
Implementation will need to be done.
ALL CONCERNED
Page 2
• The new policy will need to be
included in the new employee orientation
program.
• Appropriate changes in staff post orders/duty statements
must be part of the
plan.
“ Inmate quarterly package procedures and canteen lists must be modified.
• The policy should delineate progressive discipline for
inmates who are found in
violation of the ban on smoking and/or being in possession of tobacco
products/smoking paraphernalia.
• East and West Facilities shall keep their Men’s Advisory
Councils apprised of the
policy and implementation time frames.
• A plan for removing the existing cigarette “strikers” in
the recreation yards will
need to be addressed.
All division heads are expected to dedicate any necessary
personnel or resources in
the completion of this project.
Please contact me should you have any questions.
R.SOUZA
Warden (A)
cc: Division Heads
State of
Date: February 4, 2002
To ALL INMATES HOUSED IN LEVEL IV HOUSING
From:
Subject: BAN OF SMOKING TOBACCO FOR LEVEL IV INMATES
Effective immediately, inmates in all Level IV housing units will not be permitted to purchase “smoking tobaccos” from the Canteen. Inmates housed in all Level IV housing units will not be able to receive smoking tobacco in quarterly packages beginning the second calendar quarter 2002. Inmates will be allowed to keep smoking tobacco products currently in their possession until March 31, 2002. After that date, smoking tobacco products discovered within the housing units will be considered contraband and will be disposed of accordingly.
This ban of smoking tobacco is a result of:
• Pending litigation and current appeals by inmates complaining about the health hazards related to the exposure to second-hand smoke.
• Continued failure by the inmate population to comply with the departmental Smoking Policy and State Law which prohibits smoking in all State buildings. This is evidenced by the approximately 216 smoking-related Rules Violations Reports (CDC 115’s) and at least 69 Inmate Counseling Chronos (CDC 128 A’s) generated at SAC during the period June 1, 2001 to January 1, 2002.
• 135 work orders addressed by Plant Operations where inmates have used cell electrical outlets to light cigarettes, thus creating fire hazards and endangering themselves and other inmates.
It is apparent that efforts to ensure compliance with the Smoking Policy have failed to achieve the goal. Despite these efforts, smoking by inmates in housing units continues to present a health risk to staff and inmates.
Therefore, while it is regretful that a ban must be implemented, the health and welfare of all staff and inmates is of paramount importance.
C. K. PLILER
Warden
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