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> Your solution to inmates having crappy lives is to impose even more arbitrary restrictions on them?

What about the other prisoners and guards who don't smoke having smoke imposed on their lungs? Isn't that ridiculous? I'm suggesting we make this fairer, by not forcing inmates to breathe poisonous fumes in addition to serving their sentences. What makes prisons special compared to every other indoor public space (in most western countries) where it is banned - why are they exempt?

For one, prisoners are generally not allowed to step outside for a cigarette at their leisure

In a small space like a prison where people by definition can't get out, it seems draconian to let people smoke in light of the fact that there are others who don't want to inhale that and may have medical conditions exacerbated by it. By default, the recreational hobby of smoking should be disallowed.

The right of nonsmokers to not breath second hand smoke has moral precedence over the right of smokers to smoke.