''Prisoners with alcohol and drug addictions have to deal with it. We don't offer alcohol to prisoners with alcohol addictions or P to prisoners with methamphetamine addictions. This is a prison, it's not a home.''
Department of Corrections bosses found taxpayers could be liable for lawsuits from prison guards exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke.
The potential threat of legal action was heightened after the Government's decision to "double bunk" inmates in a single cell, raising the possibility of non-smoking prisoners suing the Government for being housed with smoking inmates.
The dangers of legal action were found after Collins instructed Corrections staff to investigate a ban, and its success rates overseas.
They found tobacco was used as currency inside prison and was the cause of disputes. Further reasons for the ban included the use of cigarette lighters and matches to melt plastic into which blades could be embedded, turning cell possessions into weapons.
While some would say that taking cigarettes off inmates could lead to riots - we are sure that if the programme is introduced in the right way with plenty of support for both inmates and officers to give up them the potential for violence will be lessened.
So well done Judith...
New figures released by the Department of Corrections show the number of prisoners using drugs has hit a record low.
Acting prison services assistant general manager Leanne Field said the number of prisoners returning positive results after being randomly tested had plummeted to 10.5 per cent, the lowest rate ever recorded across all prisons in New Zealand.
"This is a major achievement given that 34 per cent of prisoners tested positive when testing began in the late 1990," Mrs Field said.
She said the reduction had been achieved through ongoing investment and improvement in prison security, and enhanced visitor and prisoner searching.
"We also undertake regular searches with our 12 drug dog teams and have a highly skilled intelligence team who work to stop criminal activities within prison."
Mrs Field said getting further declines was a challenge as prisoners and their associates in the community were inventive in identifying ways to smuggle contraband into prison.
She said there was also a focus on reducing the demand for drugs in prison through treatment clinics.
- NZPA
While in prison, Carroll had "endeavoured to keep his brain active" and had learnt Japanese, German and Russian. He impersonated a Russian seaman in 1987 before committing rapes.
The Parole Board decision said that Carroll enjoyed debating, attended Toastmasters and, while in Wellington Prison, was able to paint in his cell.
He is now working on the prison grounds in a low-security area in the joinery and is on the waiting list to move to a self-care unit and use the Release to Work programme.
He had accepted the need for counselling and talked to the board about the difficulties that he had on his last release, "especially involved in making decisions at all when most decisions are made for prisoners".
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