The term “prison canteen” typically refers to the facility or system within a prison where inmates can purchase a variety of items for personal use. It is essentially a store that offers a range of products that inmates can buy.
The manner in which canteen operates can vary but typically it involves in the prisoner receiving an order sheet that details how much they have available to spend and a list of all the available products. They mark down what products they want and hand the form back to the prison. The ordered items are generally then delivered to them a few days later.
The specific items available in a prison canteen can vary depending on the facility and the rules and regulations in place. However, some common items that may be available for purchase include:
- Food and Snacks: Inmates can often buy a selection of food and snack items such as packaged goods, beverages, sweets, crisps, instant noodles, and other non-perishable food items.
- Toiletries and Personal Care Products: Inmates may be able to purchase toiletries and personal care items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, and other hygiene products.
- Clothing and Footwear: Basic clothing items such as underwear, socks, t-shirts, and shoes may be available for purchase in some prison canteens.
- Stationery and Writing Materials: Inmates may have access to paper, pens, envelopes, stamps, and other writing materials to communicate with their loved ones or engage in personal writing.
- Tobacco and Smoking Products (where permitted): In prisons where smoking is allowed, inmates may have the option to purchase tobacco, cigarettes, or other smoking-related items.
- Over-the-Counter Medications: Some prison canteens may offer a limited selection of over-the-counter medications like pain relievers, cough medicine, or antacids.
The availability of items in a prison canteen can vary, and there may be limits on the quantities or types of items that inmates can purchase. Additionally, inmates typically need funds in their prison account to make purchases from the canteen, and the prices of items may be higher than their retail value outside of the prison.