CORRECTIONS - MDOC to be Tobacco-Free by February 2009

Beginning in February 2009, all state prisons and camps, including the Field Operations Administration's Tuscola Residential ReEntry Facility will become tobacco-free facilities. This plan has been developed as a comprehensive, yet flexible, initiative to eliminate the use and possession of tobacco products on state correctional facility property.

Michigan Department of Corrections Memo

According to a memo released by MDOC Director Patricia L. Caruso:

"The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is moving forward with a plan to have all CFA facilities and the FOA Tuscola Residential ReEntry Program become tobacco-free by February 1, 2009, prohibiting smoking and the possession of tobacco and tobacco products for both employees and offenders in all CFA facilities and at the FOA Tuscola Residential ReEntry Program. The use of tobacco and tobacco products will be prohibited on facility grounds and all tobacco products will have to be secured in a locked vehicle. There will no longer be designated smoking areas, and staff will be prohibited from smoking in their vehicles on facility grounds. This action is being taken for various reasons including litigation challen No Smoking Sign ges facing the Department and legislative requirements in addition to the positive health benefits that will result for all who work at or reside in these facilities.

"To ensure a successful transition to a tobacco-free environment, a Tobacco Cessation Committee was formed and chaired by Regional Prison Administrator Ray Wolfe. The committee has developed a timeline for the implementation of this plan, and in order to ensure a successful transition, will be seeking input from all staff at every facility and from all bargaining units, as well as from the offender population. The Department will be taking a proactive approach to assist staff and offenders in this significant lifestyle change.

"To assist our staff, information about tobacco cessation programs and community support groups will be provided as well as information regarding the benefits provided by health insurances in this regard. In the coming months, information will be disseminated in a variety of ways through policy updates, FYI articles, Web site/wellness links, training programs and continual discussions with administrative staff. The information disseminated will provide more specific details about the tobacco cessation plan and will hopefully answer the many questions that will arise.

"To assist the offender population, we already have a successful Smoking Cessation program in place at every CFA facility. This program will continue with the goal of helping every prisoner in need of these services to transition to a tobacco-free lifestyle. In addition, various educational posters about tobacco cessation will be posted throughout the facilities and the Tuscola Residential ReEntry Program and corresponding handouts will be made available to the offender population.

"Please share this information with all staff and offenders and encourage those who smoke or use tobacco products to start thinking about ways to quit. I know this is going to be a difficult challenge for many people, but the end result will be a benefit to all. I ask you to be supportive of our move to a healthier, tobacco-free environment."

The legislature passed language in the FY 2008 corrections budget calling for a feasibility study and plan that would essentially make all prisons tobacco-free by early 2009. The MDOC has been working with several other agencies in preparation for this change.

Spiraling prison costs, employee and prisoner health concerns, and the potential liability to the department due to second-hand smoke lawsuits were primary reasons for the ban. In the past 10 years, prisoner health care costs have expanded to more than $300 million dollars, just over 15% of the total annual operational budget for the department.

Michigan currently bans the use of tobacco products inside prison buildings and the state has banned tobacco use inside state-owned buildings since 1992. In addition, all county jail facilities in Michigan have been tobacco-free for many years.

For many prisoners, their county jail stay was in a smoke-free environment where they had to become former tobacco users, only to be sentenced upon conviction to a state facility where they could start smoking again. So going tobacco-free in our state correctional system makes sense from a transitional perspective as well.

Several states including California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington State, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have tobacco-free prison systems. While they all had issues that had to be overcome, none saw massive riots, prisoner insurrection, or mass defections of staff whose tobacco use rights were restricted.

March 2008 Actions

Starting this month, the department is implementing a series of steps toward successful implementation of this initiative:

Each facility will have an appropriate number of smoking cessation facilitators trained and able to provide this training to every prisoner in need of this service.
Facilities with mental health prisoners will meet with these prisoners to discuss the tobacco cessation plan. They will also receive specialized training that is being developed for this population.
Throughout the implementation phase, facilities should bring in guest speakers, e.g. health care experts, fitness experts, etc., to address the offender population on the harm of tobacco use and the benefits of quitting.
Facility administrators, managers, and supervisors throughout the department should meet regularly with employees including during annual training sessions, in staff meetings, and at specially formed committees to discuss the Tobacco Cessation Plan. Forming such a committee could be very beneficial to the overall implementation of the plan for your facility. The facility committee should forward any issues/concerns to the attention of the Tobacco Cessation Committee for further discussion and clarification .
Wardens should meet with the warden's forum members to discuss the Tobacco Cessation Plan. Any questions/concerns should be brought to the attention of the Tobacco Cessation Committee.

In the near future, facility administrators should ensure that "tobacco-free environment" signs are posted throughout the facility and corresponding handouts should be made available to prisoners. A visitor notification regarding the tobacco cessation plan is also being developed for distribution to visitors through the information desk.

Staff will soon receive specific information through HR providing names of local community support groups, tobacco cessation plans, information regarding nicotine replacement therapy options, details of insurance coverage for these items, etc. Employees should also be directed to the Employee Service Program for counseling services and further support as needed.

Please feel free to contact your warden or administrator with any questions, issues or suggestions you may have regarding successful implementation of this initiative. The information will be shared with the MDOC Tobacco Cessation Committee.