SPRINGFIELD - More than a year ago, there were concerns Illinois' overcrowded prisons could become a powder keg. A new law, the statewide smoking ban, would soon strip more than 45,000 inmates and 11,000 prison employees of their ability to have a smoke behind bars. | Ban hurt casinos

But now, after almost 12 months, there have been no major incidents to report.

"I think it's actually worked better than I think anybody anticipated," said Randy Hellman, a correctional officer at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center.

Prison officials also say the smoking ban has gone well.

"We will have an occasional violation with an inmate, staff or visitor in possession of tobacco, but those occurrences have been minimal," said Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp.

That wasn't the way some people figured the smoking ban would work.

Lawmakers raised questions about tobacco becoming a black market item, smuggled into prisons where it could be sold at a high price.

Those fears weren't unfounded.

In 2005, a ban on tobacco in California prisons ignited a black market where a pack of smokes could go for $125. Brawls erupted between inmates over tobacco.

In 2006, Illinois prison officials raised the specter of banning smoking at the facilities, but quickly reversed course when the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees objected, arguing on behalf of its workers at the prisons, that a smoking ban would raise tensions at the facilities and turn tobacco into an illegal, but valued item for trading favors.

By the end of 2007, however, the reality of the long-sought statewide smoking ban began to descend on the prison system.

Schnapp said inmates got the opportunity to take smoking cessation classes. Prison stores began stocking nicotine patches and lozenges.

The state also begin offering inmates three pieces of sugarless, hard candy with meals in order to take their minds off of having a cigarette after eating.

In addition, the department believes a smoking ban already in effect in county jails helped with the transition.

"We have not really seen anything that would relate fights to lack of nicotine," Schnapp said.

Prison employees also have adjusted. Smoking areas have been created near the entrances to the prisons, allowing employees to take smoke breaks.

"It doesn't seem to have been a major problem," Hellman said.

In fact, corrections officials say there have been benefits to the ban.

"Our health care staff has said there are probably less asthmatic complications than before and we no longer handle the numerous complaints from inmates about second-hand smoke," Schnapp said.