August 23, 2007
Penal idiocy
In the sissyfied society that is 21st Century America, we wouldn't want convicts to get the idea that prison is supposed to be unpleasant -- starting with the menu.
MIAMI — Jewish inmates who follow strict religious diets at Florida prisons are no longer provided meals in line with their beliefs. Muslims must now eat vegan food to satisfy their religious requirements.
The Corrections Department has ended the Jewish Dietary Accommodation Program, which provided kosher meals to not only Jews, but to Muslims as well, because the state prison system does not offer halal food. Cost — and fairness — were cited as factors.
[...]
The department has suspended use of pork products in an attempt to appease religious adherents and will continue to serve vegetarian and vegan meals. It said many Jews and Muslims could choose the vegan option, which is free of any animal products, to adhere to their faiths.
But for the strict followers of kosher and halal diets, it is far from ideal.
[...]
The Corrections Department halted new enrollment in the state's Jewish Dietary Accommodation Program in April — when it had 259 inmates enrolled and another 95 seeking inclusion — and commissioned a review. Last year, the department opened the kosher meal program to non-Jews and officials have feared it would burgeon, along with the bill.
[...]
The state said it costs about $2.66 (euro1.96) daily to serve inmates three regular meals. Kosher meals cost the same, but with costs for disposable containers and transportation, since the food was not prepared in each facility, the price came to about $4.71 (euro3.47) daily. Prepackaged kosher meals would have cost roughly $12 (euro8.84) to $15 (euro11.05) daily per prisoner, according to the department, but also may have come with additional costs for transport and supplementation with additional food items.
A survey included in the study group's recommendations found that nationally, among 34 states that responded, 26 had kosher menus available. Out of 33 state responses, just five offered halal food.
Florida state regulations mandate three meals — at least two of them hot — be served to inmates each day, and that "inmates who wish to observe religious dietary laws receive a diet sufficient to sustain them in good health without violating those dietary laws."
The state was already the target of a still-unresolved lawsuit filed last year by the Florida Justice Institute on behalf of Muslim inmates denied meals in accordance with their diets. It was unclear if the latest move, which was effective last week, could bring further litigation.
Harry Dammer, a criminal justice professor at the University of Scranton who studies religion in prisons, said he did expect more lawsuits.
"The trend is to come up with this one alternative meal that will sort of encompass all of these parties," he said, "and it's not going to be easy to do."
Really? It's not all that difficult; check out what inmates get in Maricopa County, thanks to Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
This year's Christmas dinner in tent city will cost taxpayers only 3 cents per meal. Compare that to the usual cost of 35 cents per meal and you'll agree there's a little ho-ho-ho in this jolly old man.
Arpaio has been in his current job for 14 years ... Arpaio also runs a high school/GED program and an English speaking program. "The inmates need to speak English; my guards don't need to speak Spanish. We're in America."
Criticism of his methods (pink underwear for prisoners, summer temps of 115 degrees in the tents, green baloney, etc.), has not softened Arpaio through the years.
"I just get tougher and tougher. I'm tough, but humane. After all the investigations, I'm still here."
With regard to the quality of the food, other prisons in the State and around the nation will average a dollar to a buck and a half per meal. But Arpaio says he doesn't do it to save money...he does cause "the prisoners deserve to be punished."
"Punished." What a concept.
I'm heartened that Florida has seen the light -- but a real fix won't come until lawmakers change the regulations requiring such gustatory coddling. I'm just as troubled by how many other states cater (literally) to the dietary demands of convicted rapists, killers, dopers and grifters.
Twenty-six states offer kosher food for crooks? Oy vey!
I'd feed 'em all almost rancid pork-based bologna -- Jews, Muslims, everybody. Just one more reason to never want to go back to prison.
Posted by Mike Lief at August 23, 2007 08:14 PM
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