Tobacco.org

Cigarettes become a privilege at Spartanburg County jail 

Cigarettes are prohibited in South Carolina prisons but treated as a privilege in the Spartanburg County jail.

Jail Director Larry Powers said, based on studies and personal experience, he believes allowing inmates controlled access to cigarettes prevents a black market from developing to sell cigarettes and reduces the personnel hours required to enforce such a ban.

Powers tried banning cigarettes years ago after issuance of a county ordinance, but two officers began selling cigarettes for $1 apiece, paper matches for 10 cents and a "striker" for 50 cents. The officers were fired. . . .

Generic cigarettes are sold for $4.90 per pack, and name brand cigarettes are sold for $5.52 per pack, Powers said. Those prices will go up if a proposed increase in state taxes is passed. The money from the cigarette and other canteen purchases is used to buy basketballs, checkers and chess sets and televisions for inmate use, Powers said.

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