On April 15, it was reported that the court in Ector County, Texas, United States, has approved the sale of e-cigarettes to inmates at the Ector Law Enforcement Center.

"They need to correct the grade, the prisoner they put a barcode on, they scan it, the prisoner has to give this particular unit back to another unit, and if it is changed in any way, they will not get the other unit." Sheriff Mike Griffis said.

Hector County Judge Dustin Fawcett said all revenue would go to the jail at no cost to taxpayers, which would offset the cost of housing the inmates.

Pay for supplies that prisoners need, their beds, pillows, and all those types of things that taxpayers buy on foot, so we certainly do our best to reduce all taxpayer items, Fawcett said.

They buy e-cigarettes for $3.85 each and sell them for about $14, Griffith said. They'll start with 1,000 and see how it goes.

"I hope we sell a bunch and make a lot of money. The seller says you can make a million dollars a year selling these things." "Griffith said.

An e-cigarette is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes.

Fawcett said other counties have used this method before because e-cigarettes are a behavioral tool.

As long as you have cooperative inmates who are well connected, it helps our prison population, our staff, when you have good inmates, you don't see as much turnover of staff, Fawcett said.

Griffiths says e-cigarettes are fairly indestructible and hopefully don't pose a safety threat.