Get out of jail smoke-free

The Government is reportedly looking at making the nation's prisons smoke-free from next year.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins is expected to announce a 12-month preparation plan, leading up to smoking being banned in jails by July 2011, the Herald on Sunday reported.

It said the Corrections Department was concerned taxpayers could be liable for legal action from prison officers exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke and also from non-smoking prisoners sharing cells with tobacco users.