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Sheriff replaces PB+J sandwiches with lunch meat at jail
The Polk County sheriff says the menu change will save taxpayers over $11,000 a year. He's cut costs other ways, too: Three packs of crackers a week instead of cornbread three times a week; $33,304 saved. One slice of bread for breakfast daily instead of two; $25,116 saved. One egg patty a week instead of two fresh eggs; $24,545 saved. (Tampa Tribune)
July 10, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
Prison riots make great TV.
Posted by: Sean, Torrington CT | Jul 10, 2008 5:35:34 AM
That's good. Prison is not supposed to be a fun experience. As long as they are getting the nutrients to live that's enough. That meat does look pretty nasty though. Glad I'm not in jail.
"Pinellas recently stopped providing inmates salt and pepper packets on food trays. That decision, however, came because the spices could have been used as a weapon"
I think I remember Steven Segal killing four assassins in a movie with some salt and pepper packets.
Posted by: G-Man | Jul 10, 2008 5:52:11 AM
Great, they can use the savings on sterilization.
Posted by: Dbl J | Jul 10, 2008 5:58:50 AM
I agree G-man. I have a real problem with prisoners eating better than people on the streets that cant afford a real meal. Whey should rapists and murderers eat fresh eggs and good food, when the elderly are forced to eat canned cat food - or nothing at all.
Posted by: JIM | Jul 10, 2008 6:01:44 AM
whatever happened to bread and water as the prison diet?
Posted by: genonyc | Jul 10, 2008 6:05:06 AM
wow, if potential rape or shanking wasn't enough to scare people out of prison, this oughta do the trick.
Posted by: sometimesilie | Jul 10, 2008 6:12:14 AM
yuck. Do these prisoners get fed their veggies and fruit? I only see meat and bread listed in this story.
And what about flintstone vitamins?---at least to make up for the lack of other nutrients.
I take Flintstone vitamins everyday. They keep my iron levels up so I can give blood.
Posted by: twerp | Jul 10, 2008 6:24:07 AM
Ooooo, I just got an idea. They should feed these criminals good and take really good care of them and use them as blood banks. At least some good could come out of their doing nothing all day.
Posted by: twerp | Jul 10, 2008 6:26:13 AM
I agree with G-man and many of the others. I don't understand how prisoners have any sort of moral grounds to make demands on food, television, recreational activities, etc.
I've always believed that most first time non-violent offenders need transitional programs and other remedies rather than hard time - treat someone like an animal and they'll behave like one. But for violent criminals and revolving-door offenders who have proven that they are incapable of being a functional part of society - murderers, rapists, etc - yea, prison is supposed to suck.
I say give 'em nutraloaf:
http://www.slate.com/id/2193538/
Posted by: elchampino | Jul 10, 2008 6:33:46 AM
WOOO HOOOO! Give this man a standing O!!!!
Posted by: cherie | Jul 10, 2008 6:47:11 AM
"Said Judd: "The reason they're behind bars is because they misbehaved. They may not have been convicted … beyond a reasonable doubt, but certainly their conduct landed them in jail.""
yeah, thanks a$$hole. i spent two days in jail because of a false accusation. and now i have to eat yr skitty food because you think think that i'm guilty?
Posted by: lester | Jul 10, 2008 6:51:26 AM
INTERESTING FOR SURE
Posted by: | Jul 10, 2008 7:02:14 AM
"Judd said there won't be a specific type of meat served – just whatever's cheapest that day."
Finally!! I will make some money from the possum franchise I bought into
Posted by: jupiterjim | Jul 10, 2008 7:04:51 AM
He'd save a lot more money if he cut out food altogether.
Posted by: Phranqlin | Jul 10, 2008 7:14:14 AM
About the nutritional content of the diet:
Having taken a course on nutrition, it seems to me that the sheriff is actually doing the inmates a favor. He's taking out high-cholesterol items as well as reducing the white flour content (which is nothing more than empty calories) of their daily diet.
While fruits and veggies aren't mentioned, I don't doubt they're served. One of my sister's complaints when she did a week in the pokey for her 4th DUI was that the dinner plate was "swimming with green veggie crap," which she doesn't like. Granted, that was Ohio and this article concerns Florida, but I doubt there's much difference.
At any rate, whenever a government entity takes steps to reduce the taxpayer burden, without jeopardizing overall quality of service, I'm in.
Posted by: Soo | Jul 10, 2008 7:48:42 AM
I also agree that jail and prison should not be fun, and that those convicted should not have any grounds upon which to complain if the food is crap. Those improperly accused are in the minority and I do feel bad about that, but it's the majority I'm concerned about here.
As for prison riots, if it weren't for the guards, who may not deserve to be caught in the crossfire, I'd encourage those whenever possible. Thinning the herd, as it were.
Posted by: Soo | Jul 10, 2008 7:52:15 AM
Quite surprised by the posts so far. Apparently most of you have never had *your turn in the barrel*. I expected the usual self righteous blathering, and long for a tune tempered by experience and compassion. Don't get me wrong. My solution for dangerous criminals falls along the plot laid out in the movie "No Escape". Let's not forget that this is a jail we are commenting about, not prison. Big difference. Also, unless the Southern tradition has changed overnight, you can bet that the saved revenue does not entirely show up in the public coffers.
SC State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel recently started a short prison sentence for cocaine charges. You can be assured that he, and FL criminals like him are not eating mystery meat. They also had sentences long enough to put themselves in a state facility, (prison) as opposed to county time (jail) for shorter term offences. Oversight commitees administer the prisons. In the South, the sheriff is a virtual baron, and your ass is his. Always follow the money, and matching federal funds. Jail is good business.
Posted by: thomas | Jul 10, 2008 8:29:42 AM
twerp--might want to re-think the prisoners-giving-blood idea--think Hep, or any other number of blood diseases. I think I'll pass on a prisoner blood donation.
Posted by: troschne | Jul 10, 2008 8:58:20 AM
twerp--might want to re-think the prisoners-giving-blood idea--think Hep, and any other number of blood-born diseases, which are common in jails/prisons. I think I'll take a pass on jailbird blood donations.
Posted by: troschne | Jul 10, 2008 9:02:16 AM
Said Judd: "... They may not have been convicted … beyond a reasonable doubt, but certainly their conduct landed them in jail."
The biggest problem I have here is that at least some of these people have not been convicted of a crime.
Treating convicted rapists and murderers to such delicious fare is one thing, but treating the guy down the street who's crime is a possible string of unpaid parking tickets this way is another story altogether.
Posted by: Reno | Jul 10, 2008 9:07:24 AM
Frankly, I wish we could somehow separate California and Oregon from the mainland U.S. and turn the area into one large prison, much like the Kurt Russell movie, except on a larger scale. Prisoners could then forage or grow their food. Perhaps more realistically, we could imitate many foreign prisons, where families are responsible for providing food for their jailed relatives. No family. No food. Does anyone truly care if an inmate starves to death? I know I don't.
Posted by: Dick Tater | Jul 10, 2008 9:12:49 AM
This will just give them lawsuits when more obese prisoners start suing for losing weight like that one kid did.
Dick Tater: Normally I don't respond to you because I know reading responses is a masturbatory experience for you. But might I suggest an alternative location for your plan? The moon and mars. We could let prisoners start the building and eventual terraforming processes for us.
Posted by: boynamedsuet | Jul 10, 2008 9:23:18 AM
Dick Tater steps up to the plate, 3-2 count,a glint in his eye, and spittle on his beard,,,,,,
the pitch,,,it's a fastball,,,Tater leans into it,,,
and laces it,,a hard drive to left field, going,,going,,going,,,,,,,HE'S OUGHTA HERE!!!!!!!!
Posted by: thomas | Jul 10, 2008 9:34:01 AM
"I think I remember Steven Segal killing four assassins in a movie with some salt and pepper packets."
I'm guessing you're being sarcastic, but salt and pepper can be used as a weapon. You get enough packets, open them all up, dump them in your fist, and throw it in another inmate's face. It's not going to work like mace, but the idea is to keep the other guy blinking while you land your first shots.
It's an old bar fight technique. Hot sauce on your fingers works a lot better if you can get it.
Posted by: NoName | Jul 10, 2008 9:52:51 AM
dick, if we had that foreign prison model, who would bring you food?
Posted by: lester | Jul 10, 2008 11:30:29 AM
