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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;cwtokenman, post: 2147524, member: 2100&quot;]A Prison token was a medium of exchange that may have been used in Federal, state, or local jails, prisons &amp; penitentiaries. It was held that convicts and cash do not mix, as the lust for money is what landed many inmates in the pokey in the first place. A convict possessing actual U.S. cash could do a number of undesirable things - bribe guards for special treatment, purchase contraband/favors from other inmates, gamble, or possibly be extorted by guards or other inmates. In the event of an escape, cash on hand/in pocket could buy food, other clothing, transportation, or even weapons while on the run.</p><p><br /></p><p>While there were serious drawbacks for inmates having legal tender, at the same time, there were legitimate reasons for some type of prison currency. Most lock-ups have provision for prisoners to purchase from a commissary such things as tobacco, snacks, reading material, personal items, etc. </p><p><br /></p><p>If you have never visited anyone in prison, that is one of the reasons guards watch over the visiting area, to make sure cash (among other things) is not exchanged between the visitor and the inmate. I know that when I have visited &quot;detained&quot; family members, they were prohibited from going in the vending area, even to see what snacks were offered in the vending machines. That is probably because with money being out in the open, an exchange could be more easily made.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, prison tokens were a medium of exchange that allowed prisoners the lawful use of money while within the walls, but would deny them the illicit uses. Typically these tokens will have the name of the prison, as well as a denomination on them. Many of the ones I have are made of plastic. Prison tokens are not often used in today&#039;s world, as they have been replaced by more modern means. Most cases of which I am aware, the prisoner has an &quot;account&quot;, and legit purchases are simply deducted from that account, a bit similar to using a debit card, or writing a check.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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