Wellington, June 29 NZPA - Prisoners don't like being in jail anyway and banning smoking isn't likely to have a huge impact on their behaviour, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - Prisoners will have a year to adjust to not being able to smoke in jail but after that new inmates will have to go cold turkey.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - A comprehensive cessation programme must be available to prisoners if smoking is banned in jails, the Rethinking Crime and Punishment group says.

Wellington, May 11 NZPA - The prison officers' union says 450 Corrections officer jobs are at risk because of a government decision to allow two existing prisons to be privately managed.

Wellington, Feb 9 NZPA - Opposition MPs supported a small but vocal protest today outside Parliament, with the Public Service (PSA) and Corrections associations warning of backlashes if the Government privatises prisons.

By Paloma Migone of NZPA Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - The Corrections Department is working on plans to hand over two publicly run prisons to the private sector.

The new law on privately run prisons ensures public accountability, says Corrections Minister Judith Collins, but opponents disagree, as Paloma Migone reports for NZPA.

Wellington, Sept 23 NZPA - Having the military ready to run prisons is a standard contingency plan and not preparation to lock out guards in an industrial dispute, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

Wellington, Sept 23 NZPA - The military are ready to step in and run prisons if industrial unrest escalates, Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews told MPs today.

Wellington, Aug 27 NZPA - Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews is confident an arrangement where prison union members are paid to conduct union work is all above board.