E-Cigarette Trends Hit Detention Center

Inmates in the Darlington County Detention Center could face steep penalties for bringing in contraband, like cigarettes.

That’s something that concerned Tom Tyner, who is serving time inside the DCDC and used to smoke. But then, about a year ago, the DCDC offered him and other inmates electronic-cigarettes for purchase.

“When I first found out about it I was like, ‘What? We get to smoke in jail?’” says Tyner. “That’s a new one on me, ’cause I’ve never been able to smoke in jail.”

Neither has any inmate in South Carolina. But Major Mitch Stanley says he thought of the idea after trying to find a way to bring more revenue to the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the DCDC.

“The inmates loved them from the start. They wanted to know if they could buy them the first day,” Major Stanley says, who also serves as the DCDC Director.

Major Stanley says he expected the e-cigarettes to bring in about $5,000 in profit in its first year. It brought in three times that amount.

“We use that money that inmates spend on the e-cigarettes to buy the essentials– food, and things of that sort,” says Major Stanley. “That we normally have to use tax payer dollars for.”

The e-cigarettes also lowered the amount of contraband brought into the jail. Inmates say they’re happy the sheriff’s office introduced the cigarettes.

“It’s almost like a real cigarette,” says Tyner. “Just wish it would last a little longer, ya know?”