Letter to the Editor - May 2001

Back in May 2001 our local (Thunder Bay, Ontario) District Jail went smoke free. The following letter to the editor appeared in the local paper (Chronicle Journal):

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Inmates at the District Jail, don't forget who runs the institution. You do - like cleaning, food preperation, laundry, etc. In short, without your co-operation, the jail would fold.

If there are non-smokers in the jail, I'm sure we can accomodate them in a non-smoking range designed strictly for the cause. The benefits of smokers being allowed to smoke would far surpass the consequences of banning smoking.

I'm an ex-inmate from the District Jail. While there, I and four other inmates had to make a stand in order to be heard. Unfortunately, we grabbed all the guards hostage and yes, we had our demands heard.

I'm not suggesting a hostage incident, in fact, I'm totally against it.

All the inmates must unite for the cause. There will be repercussions but we have to stand up and maintain the strength of our convictions. Many men have died or shed their blood for the causes.

Don't ever think that what little you have today was because Correctional Services Canada wanted to give it to you.

If you allow the administration to take away the little luxury of smoking, what will they take next?

Trying to stop the inmates' actions by threatening their medication is horrendous, cruel and unusual. People do have the right to strike and the jail has no right to threaten their actions.

In closing, my family has over 150 years in provincial and federal prisons. We all did our time and shed our blood for the cause. In fact, I had one who was "found hanging" in Prince Albert Prison back in 1979.

Don't let the C.S.C. take awy any more than they have already because they'll take everything they can in the name of safety or security.

Unite or lie down and die.

If you want a layer to fight for your causes, money talks.
-James Hogan
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I responded with my own letter:
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Inmates can't smoke in jail. Tough luck. It's not a pleaure cruise. In other words: "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime".

Mr. Hogan suggests that the inmates go on strike. He figures that the prisoners run the institution. He feels that if they don't do the cleaning, food preperation and laundry the jail will "fold".

This is not the case. If the inmates refuse to do the work they will be sitting in their dirty cells wearing dirty clothes and starving. It would be their choice.

Mr. Hogan also states that his family has spent 150 years in federal and provincial prisons. That's some badge of honour. Sounds like a family of winners to me. I just he doesn't have any children to carry on the "family tradition". If not, let me be the first to sign the petition to have him "fixed".
- Tony Gallo