CALLS TO BAN SMOKING IN NT PRISONS

NT PRISONS SHOULD FOLLOW NSW AND SA EXAMPLE AND INTRODUCE A TOTAL PERMANENT BAN ON SMOKING IN PRISONS

Criminals and prisoners currently enjoy too much freedom and rights in the Northern Territory. They get much more rights than victims of crime would ever get. Here is a great opportunity for the Northern Territory Government to follow the example set by New South Wales and South Australia to introduce a total ban on smoking in all of Northern Territory prisons.

Criminals must realise if they do the crime they must do proper time the hard way just like everyone else. Too bad if the prisoners claim that smoking is one of the few remaining rights they enjoy right now. Lets take the right of smoking away from prisoners. It wouldn't hurt to see the prisoners do away with smoking.

Royal Darwin Hospital and other NT hospital already bans smoking so I cannot see any reason why the ban should not apply to prisons.

I am very sure that prisons should be seen as a huge deterrent to crime and not a source of rehab. It should be all about punishment and deterrence, not rehab.

Prisoners won't like it eventually, and I'm sure it would lead to a reduction in crime.

RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS AND PRISONERS COMPARED WITH RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF CRIME

I WANT TO SEE CRIMINALS AND PRISONERS GIVEN FAR LESS RIGHTS AND THE VICTIMS OF CRIME GIVEN FAR MORE RIGHTS AND FINALLY MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT

The criminals and prisoners are a really protected species in the NT, with the justice system and health system on their side while the victims of crime continue to fend for themselves with little or no support.

I argue that the NT cares too much about the prisoners and criminals, and it doesn't care about the victims of crime. There is very little support or no support available to the victims of crime here in the NT compared to a flood of rights the criminals and prisoners currently enjoy.

If the rights of smoking are taken away from prisoners I'd be extremely happy. One night in hospital I was speaking to a prison warder or guard, and I was complaining to the prison guard (he was looking after a sick prisoner that night) and doctor saying it is unfair that I have to pay for care if I want it, while the prisoners do not have to pay for their care. I said to them, "look the prisoners are very lucky to get free care!" and the prison guard agreed with me.

The rights of prisoners / criminals and the rights of victims of crime is a very important issue I feel really strongly about and one I cannot ignore.

William Walker