The Richmond-based company designs, manufactures and markets everyday items for use in prisons, jails and juvenile correction facilities.

It started with a handle-free toothbrush designed to prevent prisoners from fashioning weapons from the handle. Today it includes flexible, nonbreakable mirrors and a line of clear products like shampoo, deodorant and shaving cream in see-through containers that prevent weapons from being hidden.

"It’s incredible how creative people become behind bars," says Securitas President Don Carpenter. "They can use anything to make a weapon. We try to stay a step ahead of them."

It all began in 1995 when juvenile correction officers Cherie and Larry Stone had the idea for the toothbrush. Carpenter, a successful business consultant, helped them market the product. Today he runs the company with one other employee, and the Stones are among 18 stockholders.

The Stones’ initial idea — a small toothbrush on a cap that fits over the index finger — was a hit in Carpenter’s first discussions with wardens.

Securitas had $240,000 in revenues last year, its second full year of manufacturing. It distributes to facilities as far away as California, Texas and Florida.

The company outsources all its manufacturing. Plastics One in Roanoke makes the toothbrush and Commonwealth Specialty of Richmond makes the mirrors. International Packaging Corp. of Midlothian makes writing pens with safe parts that can’t be used as weapons. The hygiene products are manufactured in California.

Carpenter’s company could be on the verge of something big. He says there are more than 3,300 local jails in the United States, more than 1,300 state prisons and an untold number of halfway houses and juvenile facilities. Department of Justice estimates indicate nearly 15 million people will be admitted to jails this year for at least two days.

"We’ve got a captive market," Carpenter jokes, "but our actual product is safety."

— Mike Ashley