Lawrence County Jail inmates can no longer smoke during their stay, Sheriff Tim Sexton said.

Thursday, January 11, 2001

Lawrence County Jail inmates can no longer smoke during their stay, Sheriff Tim Sexton said.

Effective Feb. 15, the jail building – including the sheriff’s department offices – will become a no-smoking facility.

"I think as sheriff I’m obligated to run the safest and healthiest environment I can, not only for the inmates but also for the employees," Sexton said.

If there are no matches, there’s less danger in the cells regarding fires, Sexton said.

And there is the health of non-smokers to worry about, too, he said.

Sexton said he made the decision with care, speaking to former and current sheriffs around Ohio, especially about no smoking.

Former sheriffs in Lawrence County have instituted the policy with no problems, and no smoking has been recommended by the state’s jail authority for some time, he said.