E-cigs might be sold to jail inmates

MUNCIE – Sheriff Ray Dudley is exploring the possibility of making electronic cigarettes available to inmates in the Delaware County jail.

Dudley said that electronic, or “vape” cigarettes, are in use in other Indiana county jails and could help with inmate behavior problems.

Dudley talked about the possibility with the Delaware County commissioners after their meeting Monday and spoke to The Star Press about the idea.

“We’re inquiring into the possible use of vape cigarettes in the jail,” Dudley said. “We want to see if it’s feasible.”

Smoking in county-owned buildings — and most public buildings in Delaware County — has been outlawed for much of the past decade. That smoking ban includes jail inmates.

Dudley said the jail had 270 inmates in-house on Monday and estimated that 80 percent smoke. “And that’s a conservative figure,” he added.

“We would use it as a tool,” Dudley said about the electronic cigarettes. “It would help with anger issues.”

The sheriff said his corrections staff would use the electronic cigarettes as incentive for inmates to behave and be moved into “model inmate” cellblocks.

The vape cigarettes wouldn’t be introduced into the jail immediately, Dudley added.

“I’d like to get our jail population down (to 200) first,” Dudley said. “It could be three to six months.”

The jail is approved for just over 220 inmates and had 270 inside Monday, Dudley said. But the county’s inmate total is about 500, with about 250 in various probation and alternative detention programs.

The sheriff said he consulted with the county health department — which recommended that the jail be maintained as smoke-free in every way, including e-cigarettes — and also determined the cigarettes would not have an adverse effect on air quality.

The sheriff said he “dissected” one of the cigarettes to make sure there were no elements that could be harmful to an inmate or correctional officer. He said the small battery in the cigarette becomes disabled when the cigarette is taken apart.

The jail could sell the cigarettes to inmates through the jail commissary for $10 to $15 each. He said the e-cigarettes are “equivalent to two packs of cigarettes.” Typical jail commissary items include candy and toiletries.

More jails and prisons are allowing the sale of e-cigarettes to inmates, the International Business Times reported in April, in part because they are unregulated, unlike tobacco-based cigarettes, and because there is the potential for high profits. A $15 e-cigarette can make a 25-percent commission for jail operators such as sheriffs or corrections agencies.

E-cigarettes aimed at jail inmates have names like CrossBar. Dudley said he’s talked to the Inmate Dragster brand about the Delaware County jail.

Dudley said he’ll continue to explore e-cigarette use in the jail.

“This could really curb anger issues,” Dudley said. “If inmates do good, they’ll get in a better cellblock.”

Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.