July 18, 2001

2:31 PM

Prison riot imminent. Film at 11."Many inmates are heavily invested emotionally in the routine availability of certain types of food," wrote Jovero, a member of the state Food Task Force for prisons. "Prominent among these foods is peanut butter and jelly for religious and vegetarian inmates."
posted by swell (14 comments total)

Call me old fashioned but (1) I don't believe a threat (of rioting) should be used to get what the prisons wants for its food, (2) that prisoners ought to decide what is and is not acceptable in the food they get served.



Simple method: here is food. Take it. Eat it. Or not. That's all folks.
posted by Postroad at 2:42 PM on July 18, 2001

Maggoty hardtack on Sunday, rats the rest of the week. I mean, what are dungeons for?
posted by jfuller at 2:49 PM on July 18, 2001

recently there was a case here where a jailed activist (in the county jail) requested vegan meals and was refused. the case went to court and her request was granted.
posted by modge at 3:00 PM on July 18, 2001

Escape From New York, anyone? People wanna act like animals, let 'em live like animals and fight for survival & food.

Maybe. Perhaps a bit harsh, eh?

Only violent criminals, then.
posted by davidmsc at 3:07 PM on July 18, 2001

You’re any interestingly hardcore fascist, david. Postroad, too a bit.

Most of the growth in America's prisons since 1978 is accounted for by nonviolent offenders and 1998 is the first year in which America’s prisons and jails incarcerated more than 1 million nonviolent offenders.

America's One Million Nonviolent Prisoners
posted by capt.crackpipe at 3:25 PM on July 18, 2001

Violent... non-violent... what difference does that make? The question is how far the state must go in accomodating the dietary wishes of individuals who've broken the law and been incarcerated as a consequence. Why they're there is not at issue here.

Besides, when did Soledad become an outlet of Old Country Buffet, fer crise sakes? 50 inmates rioted because they got hamburgers instead of steak, or some tree chainer tries to claim that being Jewish somehow includes eating vegan? Fuck 'em, give 'em salad and give the hamburgers that are saved as a result to some inner city or Appalachian kids whose only real meal of the day is the lunch provided for them in their school cafeteria... Bet the kids won't be whining about not getting steak.
posted by m.polo at 4:08 PM on July 18, 2001

Let them eat cake, indeed.
posted by sudama at 4:31 PM on July 18, 2001

A coworker tells me he knows the guy who conducted the study proving that using certain types of flourescent lights reduces vandalism and violence in prisons. I believe it.
posted by mecran01 at 4:34 PM on July 18, 2001

Yeah, why would your co-worker lie about knowing that guy?
posted by kindall at 7:52 PM on July 18, 2001

Postroad: I'm vegetarian. Would you insist that I ate meat if I was in prison?
posted by salmacis at 12:40 AM on July 19, 2001

I would salmacis. You commit a crime, you take what we give you. In fact, I'd even have them make you special meals of puppy-loaf.
posted by ttrendel at 3:00 AM on July 19, 2001

> Let them eat cake, indeed.

Gandhi didn't eat anything.
posted by jfuller at 9:36 AM on July 19, 2001

I say give 'em a steady diet of water, Wonder Bread and sliced peanut butter and be done with it.
posted by Dreama at 10:58 AM on July 19, 2001

How many of you use a file sharing service to break copyright laws, risking 15 years in prison? How many of you smoke grass? How many of you drank before you were 21?

Prisons are correctional facilities, not punishment centers.
posted by Ptrin at 2:36 PM on July 25, 2001