Ector County, Texas Approves E-Cigarette Sales in Jail

Today’s news, April 15: According to foreign media reports, a court in Ector County, Texas, has approved the sale of e-cigarettes to inmates at the Ector Law Enforcement Center.

“They need to correct the classification. They place barcodes on the units issued to inmates, and they will scan them. The inmate must return that specific unit in exchange for another one. If it has been altered in any way, they will not receive another unit,” Sheriff Mike Griffis said.

Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett said all revenue will go to the jail, with no cost to taxpayers, and that it will help offset the cost of housing inmates.

Fawcett said the funds would go toward paying for supplies inmates need, including beds and pillows, and other items currently borne by taxpayers, so the county will do everything it can to reduce those taxpayer expenses.

Griffis said the jail purchases the e-cigarettes for $3.85 each and sells them for about $14. They will start with 1,000 units and then see how things go.

“I hope we sell a lot of them and make a lot of money. The vendor said you can make $1 million a year selling these things,” Griffis said.

One e-cigarette is equivalent to one pack of cigarettes.

Fawcett said other counties have used this approach before because e-cigarettes can serve as a behavioral management tool.

Fawcett said that as long as inmates are cooperative and relations remain good, it helps the jail population and staff, and when inmates behave well, staff turnover is less likely to be as high.

Griffis said the e-cigarettes are fairly durable and are not expected to pose a safety threat.