The State Government this month announced it will enforce a no-smoking policy across all New South Wales prisons – including the super-max wing at Goulburn.

It’s understood around 80 per cent of the 600 prisoners at the correctional centre are smokers.

As of August, 2015, neither they nor Correctional Centre staff will be permitted to smoke anywhere on prison grounds.

Instead, prisoners who smoke will be placed on a nicotine replacement therapy program, predominately conducted using Nircorette patches. They’ll also receive counselling if required.

Staff who wish to smoke will be forced to leave Correctional Centre grounds altogether.

The Attorney General’s office could not indicate how much the nicotine replacement therapy would cost when contacted by the Post last week.

“The start-up and recurrent costs for nicotine replacement therapy will depend on the number of inmates who take up this form of smoking cessation support, their clinical need and time in custody, and number of people received into custody in the future,” a statement issued by the office of Attorney General Brad Hazzard read.

“Work is under way to develop a robust costing model for delivery of nicotine replacement therapy when NSW correctional centres go smoke-free in 2015.”

The smoking ban is being implemented by the Attorney General and his cabinet colleague, Health Minister Jillian Skinner.

“It’s a clear undertaking the ban is going to improve the health of 10,500 throughout the system,” Mr Hazzard said.

“The message from other jurisdictions who have introduced smoking bans is work constructively with inmates, work constructively with staff and make sure there are the programs to support them.”

The ban follows a trial completed at Lithgow Correctional Centre.

Although only 17 per cent of the general population claim to be regular smokers, the habit is endured by 75 to 80 per cent of prisoners.

Banning smoking in prisons, therefore, is fraught with danger, Prison Officers’ Association chairman Steve McMahon says.

“Smoking is central to the life of prisoners,” he said.

“It’s sold in every canteen, it’s currency, it’s part of the culture in prisons.

“This decision is symbolic of disrespect. It will cause trauma.”