Smoking cessation and tobacco control in prisons and the wider criminal justice system

Authors and presenters:
Susan MacAskill
Senior Researcher, Centre for Tobacco Control Research, University of Stirling, UK

Michelle Baybutt
Pan Regional Prisons Programme Lead / Research and Development Officer, Healthy Settings Development Unit, University of Central Lancashire, UK

Abstract
The case for addressing smoking among offenders is well made in ‘A Smokefree Future’. Smoking levels are high among prisoners (80%) and offenders are predominantly from disadvantaged backgrounds, linked to considerable health inequalities. Cessation interventions in prison are relatively widespread and achieve good success rates, although reach is low. Addressing organisational aspects is as important as delivery models. Wider reach will be achieved by intervening across the Criminal Justice System (CJS). The recent Delivery Plan, ‘Improving Health, Supporting Justice’, recognises high levels of health needs among offenders, whether in custody or under community supervision, and includes key objectives such as working in partnership and improving pathways and continuity of care.

This workshop will:

• Establish the context for tobacco work in criminal justice settings, through a recent literature review and previous research by the presenters in smoking cessation and other health promotion approaches.

Explore through discussion sessions:

• Issues and approaches within and beyond prison settings
• Challenges and opportunities
• Share current experiences and consider networking possibilities.

Participants will have increased ability to recognise and maximise opportunities to engage across the CJS, including offenders, families, staff and organisational targets, and thus to improve reach and stop smoking outcomes.

Source of funding: Department of Health

Declaration of interest: none

About the presenters
Susan MacAskill is Senior Researcher in the Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Institute for Social Marketing at the University of Stirling and the Open University and also the UKCTCS. She joined the Centre after working in primary care and health promotion. She has undertaken a series of three tobacco control studies in prisons for Offender Health at the Department of Health as well as conducting stop smoking research in disadvantaged communities. Current research in prison settings relate to Blood-borne Viruses and alcohol problems.

Michelle Baybutt, co-presenter, is the Lead for the Target Wellbeing Pan Regional Prisons Programme: Health, Inclusion and Citizenship and also Research and Development Coordinator for the Healthy Settings Development Unit at the University of Central Lancashire. Previously Michelle provided the North West regional strategic and programme lead on healthy prisons development and co-ordinated the North West Regional Healthy Prisons Partnership Network.

Susan and Michelle are working together on a recently commissioned
DH study (overall lead UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies) which will address the workshop issues and on the BBV study mentioned above.