Posted on 10/21/2011 7:49:02 AM PDT by lbryce
After outlawing special last-meal requests for prisoners on death row, the Texas prison system has now gone one better: They're outlawing meals, period, for everyone.
Since April, the New York Times reports, inmates have not been provided lunches on Saturdays and Sundays.
It's a cost-cutting measure: an effort to trim $2.8 million in food-related expenses from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's 2011 budget, which makes up just a small part of the state's multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall. They've made other changes elsewhere — say powdered milk instead of actual milk, or sliced white bread instead of hamburger buns. The practice is already in effect in Ohio and Arizona prisons; Georgia goes further, serving two meals per day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The American Correctional Association recommendations state inmates should receive three meals per day, seven days a week. But Daron Hall, the president of the ACA, has no problem with Texas's new policy:
"In the economic climate we're in, you're asked to do some creative and inventive things."
John Whitmire, the Democratic state senator whose kvetching led to the last-meal ban, said this:
"If they don't like the menu, don't come there in the first place."
(Excerpt) Read more at gawker.com ...
Wonder what that was made with?
We know that many of these prisoners are in for nonviolent drug charges and due to the insane minimum sentencing laws for drug offenses, many will spend a much longer term than they should.
That being said. The food served tot he prisoners is not the massive cost of incarceration. It is the large wage, benefits and union rules associated with the prison unions. I am not sure of the problems in TX, but the entire government of CA is basically a money laundering program for the prison guard union.
I was driving through Wayne County Georgia last month, and it did my heart good to see a good ole fashioned “chain gang” (although not in chains), mowing and trimming the grass of public areas, and picking up trash. Snazzy looking black/white uniforms too.
I would have no problem feeding them 3 squares, but not while sitting on the tin cans doing nothing. Make them produce for society.
What we have heh is a failyuh to communicate...
Only one of the differences between TX and CA.
I absolutely disagree with this policy. The prisoners should receive adequate food. That is three meals a day.
Based on your comments, in TX, you would be left of the liberal Democrat...and that is what's wrong with CA.
You can order one of those at collinstreet.com
It’s called the Texas Blonde Pecan Cake. Apricot Pecan Cake also goes clunk if you drop it.
Find something else to cut back on, graft and corruption would be a good start.
Liberal Dictator in Black Robes reversing this policy in 3......2.......1......
What are you in for, Jim?
A friend of mine worked for the prison system in MO. He only ordered turkey for meat...turkey ham, turkey sausage, turkey bacon. He said the prisoners were whining about being Muslim and couldn’t eat real ham. Buying only turkey saved them a lot of money.
I’m generally Attila here, but I think three meals a day is basic. Give them PB&J, but give them something.
"I'm shakin' it boss, I'm shakin' it."
I simply believe that we have too many people in prison and the court system for nonviolent crimes. Minimum sentencing guidelines put nonviolent drug criminals in prison displacing violent criminals.
As there are thousands of separate laws on the books and the fact that we over charge and over prosecute so many crimes, it makes us a free society with millions in prison, on parole and probation.
The criminal justice system has turned into little more than an expensive jobs program for police, prison guards, lawyers, judges and other government personnel.
There are too many laws, leading to too many criminals. When they are locked up, the least we can do is provide three meals a day for them. It is the incarceration and loss of freedom itself that is the punishment.
LOL!
Actually, you have to add a ‘lunch’ between each of the three meals you listed, total of 5 ‘meals’ a day, although the extra 2 were just sandwiches. Two peices of bread, and several slices of meat.
When I was a kid I got to go out and eat with the men too. It was always great.
Yes, I’m no bleeding heart when it comes to criminals but I was not aware of Ga’s policy and I disagree with it. Beans and rice are pretty cheap and very nutritious. I think they should get 3 meals of some sort even if its just a snack at lunch or something. Of course I also advocate every last one of them up and out every morning picking up trash on the side of the road.
Turkey bacon would be enough to keep me from recidivism.
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