You would expect to see the rise of e-cigs in certain places where smoking traditional cigarettes is a no-no and it does not come as a big surprise that jails have commenced utilizing and providing e-cigarette sales in their facilities. It would seem that e-cigarettes are becoming quite the “hot” commodity in rural jails around the US. A New York Times article published earlier this year explains how they came to be popular and useful among inmates and the personnel.
While some are up in arms about the availability of smokeless cigarettes for purchase by prisoners cigarettes proponents of the programs are praising innovative sheriffs for their quick thinking.
Raised Revenue
Some jails starting selling e-cigarettes in the jail commissary as a way to raise revenue and to make up the slack between budget allocations and actually costs of running the jail. A sheriff in Nebraska bought 200 e-cigs for his 32 prisoner jail and sold them all out in about 4 weeks. He also uses them as part of a “token” type economy. If you are well behaved you get to keep yours and if you are not than you have to forfeit them.
Calm Prisoners
Some jailers are not about the money they have started offering e-cigarettes in the commissary to ease the transition of smokers from smokers to non-smokers. E-cigs help reduce the mood swings that are often associated with nicotine with drawl by providing inmates with the nicotine that their bodies are used to.
All jails and prisons in the US are smoke free which means that once someone is incarcerated they cannot smoke other than when allocated with time in the yard. Many professionals in the field feel that nicotine withdrawal raises the risk of fights or aggressive incidents. It can be mediated simply by providing the option of vaping indoors.
Other Benefits
Keeping prisoners calm of course keeps the jails safer for everyone but it can also save the state money. One sheriff said “fixing a broken nose cost $2000!” so offering smokers a way to stay a bit more level and calm can help to actually save money for the county.
Additionally to producing additional income, while saving on expenses, the overall effect that e-cigarettes have on inmates is a great reduction in violence. Whether you agree or not that jails should be offering the devices to help the inmates, the end result is directly creating a safer work environment for the guards themselves.