Carpenter MJ, Hughes JR, Solomon LJ, Powell TA. Smoking in correctional facilities: a survey of employees. Tob Control. 2001 Mar;10(1):38-42.
OBJECTIVE: To assess level of endorsement and expected consequences of worksite smoking restriction policies among correctional employees. DESIGN: Mailed survey to Vermont state correctional employees. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Support for various policy alternatives for both staff and inmate smoking; expected consequences of restrictive smoking policies and smoking behaviour. PARTICIPANTS: 321 of 640 (50%) state correctional employees responded. RESULTS: Employees were somewhat receptive to smoking restrictions for inmates, but less supportive of staff smoking restrictions. A complete ban on inmate smoking both indoors and outdoors was supported by 56% and 49% of never and ex-smokers, respectively, but only 15% of current smokers (p < 0.01). A similar ban on employee smoking was supported by 38% of never and ex-smokers, but only 3% of current smokers (p < 0.01). Overall, employees were most supportive (52%) of a policy for themselves that banned indoor smoking and restricted it to certain areas outdoors. Current smokers were more likely to expect negative consequences as a result of further restrictions than were never or ex-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Although our findings are limited by a low response rate, most employees support an indoor ban, but not a total ban on smoking. Employees generally favoured a policy that was slightly more restrictive than the current policy, but were less supportive of tighter smoking restrictions for themselves. However, a more restrictive smoking policy is likely to result in some degree of resistance among current smoking employees, who may require specific attention to address their opposition.