Perspectives on implementing smoke-free prison policies in England and Wales

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22945173
AutoresJ Woodall (0000-0003-1989-3999, Reader in Health Promotion, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK, autor de correspondencia), Allison Tattersfield (Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds, UK)
Año2018
Volumen33
Número6
Páginas1066-1073
Fecha de publicación2018-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/dax031
PMID28605499
OpenAlexW2618234186
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas27

This paper explores prisoner and staff views of the current smoking policy in English and Welsh prisons (a partial ban permitting smoking in prison cells) and gauges perceptions of the implications of the forthcoming policy change which will see a total smoking ban within all parts of the institution. Five focus group discussions in one medium security male prison in England were undertaken. Three focus groups were undertaken with prisoners (both smokers and non-smokers) and two focus groups with staff. The findings suggest that smoking is embedded in the fabric of prison life and serves several functions, including alleviating anxiety in prisoners. The current smoking policy was perceived as being a fair policy that both supported smoking and non-smoking prisoners. There were concerns, however, that a total smoking ban would have adverse outcomes for prisoners and staff, including deleterious effects on mental health and the potential for violence. The paper concludes by suggesting that the incoming policy, which sees a total smoking ban in prisons, is laudable, but this research suggests that without careful implementation there may be adverse health and organisational outcomes.

Anxiety · Criminology · Environmental health · Focus group · Geography · Imprisonment · Mental health · Political science · Prison · Psychiatry · Sociology · Welsh · Child Abuse and Trauma · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation