How Jail Officials Profit from Selling E-Cigarettes to People in Their Custody

Date:  02-03-2020 Investigation finds jailers, their friends and family are raking in money in spite of health concerns relating to vaping

From ProPublica: A Kentucky river city once rich in tobacco was grappling with growing concerns about the health risks of electronic cigarettes. The former governor had already banned e-cigarettes in some state buildings, and lawmakers had prohibited selling them to anyone younger than 18. So, in May 2017, city leaders in Henderson decided to add vaping to a more than decade-old ban on smoking in local government buildings and other public places. The prohibition meant a loss of revenue for the Henderson County Detention Center, which purchased e-cigarettes and then resold them to inmates at triple or quadruple the wholesale price. Continue Reading >>>