Schwarzenegger bans smoking in prisons

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who set up a tent outside his smoke-free state office to accommodate his taste for a good cigar, signed a bill Monday barring tobacco from state prisons.

The measure amends the state's penal code to bar tobacco products from prisons and youth correctional facilities. Violators are subject to a fine.

Supporters say the changes will help save the state money on health care and improve the health of 160,000 state inmates. Some parts of California's criminal justice system such as county jails have already banned smoking.

The state generated about $1 million in tobacco taxes and $370,000 in sales taxes by selling tobacco products to inmates last year.

Bill sponsor Tim Leslie, a Republican assemblyman, estimates that about half of California prisoners smoke, costing $280 million in related health care costs.

< Another decision made without reference to the consequences. Aside from needlessly taking away an extra freedom, there is money made by the sale of cigarettes, both for prisoners and prisons, cigarettes act as a form of currency inside which can potentially help civilize things, the rich end up with an advantage inside where they shouldn't, and people who are addicted will have an additional difficulty. This issue doesn't speak well or badly for the government but it does speak very badly of them that they failed to consider these and other implications to the decision. >