Countywide

Citing the constitutional rights of inmates in San Diego County jails, Sheriff John Duffy has issued a policy that will forbid smoking in the county’s seven jails as of July 1. The policy will apply to inmates as well as to officers, said Sgt. Bob Takeshta, department spokesman.

Because jails are closed environments, there is no way for nonsmokers to escape the smoke, which violates a prisoner’s constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment, said Takeshta. San Diego is the fifth county in California to declare a no-smoking policy in its jails.

Other Sheriff’s Department offices will not be affected by the policy, Takeshta said.