Using this as an "Open Thread," I hope I will be forgiven if I am posting in the wrong place.
at msnbc.msn.com/id/28546669/ an article entitled "Sheriff jailed as inmates claim lack of food."
From what I have heard from several sources, this story could be written about the New River Jail at Dublin.
First of all, I am not defending anyone who is in jail. If you do the crime, do the time. I do think even prisoners should be fed.
The families must leave money for the inmates to buy food from a for profit snack bar or commisary inside the jail to supplement their diet, I am not sure what it is called, due to the skimpy food they are given. Out of $20.00 left for the inmate, $17.00 goes to the inmates account. A package of Raman Noodles sells for .79. The inmates must also buy deoderant, underwear, toothpaste, any necessity, from the jail. I am sure the price is higher then if the family was permitted to purchase these items. All this puts a hardship on the family as they do not wish to see their son/brother/husband go hungry because the state wishes to profit from their loved ones mistakes.
Another problem is visitation. Only a short time one night a week. No weekend or Sunday visits. On these short visits the relatives are forced to wait hours. NO Christmas visit or gifts, but!! For $20.00 payable to the jail, a Christmas stocking was given the inmate. This stocking had a hearty sandwich in it. I do not know what else it contained. But the family had to pay for it.
They also have their own telephone system. You must register and pay into the system. I believe it to be $20.00 for seven minutes. Not quite sure of that.
I do not wish for anyone to tell me how the tax payers are paying for these prisoners. It appears they are paying for themselves and someone is making a profit!
Thank you for any suggestions as how to better the situation there. I think it is a disgrace.
I am not sure where to go with this, I hope there is an investigative reporter with the Roanoke Times who can look into it. I am not permitted to even talk to the inmates as I am on no ones visitor list.
I'd prefer a return to prisons like Alcatraz. No TV, no library, no gym, absolutely no frills...just hard time in a cell with an ocassional chance to go outside and walk the yard. The fact that prison is better for many criminals than life on the outside is, well, it should not be that way. Prison is not supposed to be a vacation, it's prison.
Comment by Other John — January 8, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Henry, I'll bet you and OJ hate the ACLU too, don't you?
Comment by Allen Bunch — January 8, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
Not really, although they do an awful lot of fairly ridiculous things while ignoring others that ought to be considered equally important. But since it doesn't fit with their political motives, they ignore just about anything that could benefit a conservative ideal, but will go out of their way to push forward liberal ideology...completely regardless of the Constitution, civil liberites, or common sense. That's my only beef with the ACLU. They are very one-sided in a political sense, rather than being one-sided for the American people and standing up for ALL of our rights.
Comment by Other John — January 8, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
The Anti Christian Lawyers Union? You darn tootin.
I would like to know why we are not standing up to these Hamas supporters in the U.S. They are nothing but terrorists themselves.
We had better take hold and push back hard against these people her in the U.S. As you can see they have a strong foothold and get whatever they want by people being afraid to confront them.
That only makes them stronger.
We batter do whatever it takes to let these people know that there hamas freinds are terrorists and we will push them put.
I suggest we organize and push hard by what ever means neccessary.
Dennis Hopper said it best, "A single tear rolls down my cheek..." These aren't homeless shut-ins. They're likely in jail because they did something naughty. The family has to pay for a Christmas stocking? They should be lucky they even get that. This isn't toys-for-tots. It's jail. Please feel free to leave your doors unlocked should *you* feel bad for thieves this holiday. I don't feel the State (the taxpayers) owe convicted criminals a Christmas stocking.
That jail must be selling a *lot* of $0.79 ramen noodles to pay for guards, power, supplies, etc. and still turn a profit.
"I do think even prisoners should be fed."
Let's consider this a moment. When I need to eat, I have to go an *buy food*. However, you said, "due to the skimpy food they are given"... So the inmates can buy food (just like I have to), but they are also *given* food? I get no free State meal. How is this a hardship for them? It's hard having more?
"Another problem is visitation. Only a short time one night a week. No weekend or Sunday visits."
I see my family first thing in the morning and when I come home in the evening. It's much easier to do when you don't run foul of the law.
The ACLU has defended religious organizations as well. They defended Fred Phelps' Bigoted Baptist Church in Topeka Kansas when they wanted to protest the funerals of gays and soldiers.
They aren't one sided, they're all sided. And just because they defend people doesn't mean those involved with them personally agree with those they defend.
Fred Phelps is not a church. He's a publicity organization. He's an anti-Christian crusader disguised as a church. That's why the Anti-Christian Lawyers Union decided to defend him. They aren't defending his "evangelism". They are defending his anti-Americanism and his belittling of the Christian church.
In my recent article “The State should pray in Christ’s name,” (Roanoke Times, Nov. 30,) I spoke of the civilizing effects of Christianity on the world, using as an example the transformation that Christianity brought to the islands of Fiji in the 1800’s.
Dan Brown took strong exception to that idea in his response, “Christianity’s Uncivilizing Effects” in the December 3d Roanoke Times. Rather than bringing civilization, Brown said that missionaries from the London Missionary Society had traveled to gentle Tahiti in 1797 and begun a reign of “missionary terror.” They brought disease, slavery, torture and starvation. They started a war, giving the local chief, Pomare, liquor and guns to defeat rival chiefs and compel all Tahitians to become Christians.
Anyone who is the least bit familiar with Christian missions would find it hard to believe missionaries would commit such atrocities. A look at the history shows they did not; and Brown’s harmful falsehoods need to be corrected.
That particular war in Tahiti began because of rivalry between tribal chieftains over a pagan religion involving human sacrifice; and it was going on long before the arrival of any missionaries. At the time, the British and French were colonial rivals for Tahiti. Pomare was the chief who favored the British; and it was the British military (not the missionaries) who gave him firearms and helped him in battle. Thus when missionaries from the London Society arrived in 1797, warfare was already underway, Chief Pomare already had guns, and the European diseases that decimated the Tahitian population were already entrenched.
The missionaries actually worked for peace, in vain as it turns out. But the son of Pomare, Pomare II, eventually became a believer in Jesus Christ. He went on to win the war – and then astounded his enemies by doing an unbelievable thing. He pardoned them all and did not slaughter their wives and families, or burn their houses. This was the first major difference Christianity made in Tahitian culture. Pomare II went on to produce Tahiti’s first written code of law in 1819 which established protections for life and property, observance of the Sabbath, and the sanctity of marriage. So we again see the civilizing effects of Judeo-Christian influence.
In his book, The Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin wrote concerning Tahiti: “human sacrifices…infanticide…bloody wars where the conquerors spared neither women nor children…all these have been abolished…by the introduction of Christianity.” If Darwin recognized the civilizing power of Christ, it would be good if his present-day followers would exhibit the same intellectual honesty.
Part of the problem is critics like Brown fail to consider the reality of Christian conversion. But history cannot deny this two-thousand-year, world-wide phenomenon. It seems to be not for the proud but for those Jesus called the “poor in spirit;” those who, seeing their sin and spiritual bankruptcy before God, reach out for the pardon and forgiveness that flows from Calvary. Those people, knowing the joy of Christ in their lives, understand very well why Jesus commanded after he had conquered death, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
I have to completely agree with everyone's response to Mary's gripes with the way jails are run...you are all 100% right, it is JAIL. But, here's a thought that crossed my mind:
They leave the lights on 100% of the time...which is another way to punish the inmates (it may not be THE reason they leave them on, but it sure would suck to never have the lights off). But, what if they started turning them off at least for a couple of hours at night...I wonder how much $$ they would save in electricity??
I wonder if the jails are having to set their thermostat temps locked at a mandatory 65 degrees as I understand that the good Governor decided to do to every office over at Tech?? Talk about making someone uncomfortable...
Thank you for the comments re: the New River Jail.
As I have never had any dealing with jail or anyone in jail, until talking to some young men recently in a session who had served 3 and more months there.
The thought of even prisoners not having enough to eat bothers me. Especially when it is boys barely 18 who made stupid mistakes. None were drug related BTW.
It also bother me, having to buy all necessary items there. If they do not have the money do they go without toothpaste, underwear, deoderant etc.?
I found the "Christmas Stocking" the family paid for connected to food, rather strange. They know darn well they are depriving these people of enough to eat.
I know there are those who do not have a roof over their heads and going hungry. My family tries to help those also.
Mary, I am a little confused as to what you thought jail was supposed to be? Sure they aren't eating five course meals, but they are given meals everyday...it may not be good, and it may not be a lot but they are not starving to death with their only means of survival a pack of ramen noodles.
Also, why is food in the stocking strange? What else would a family give someone in jail? And I put food in my daughter's stocking (who is 2 and most certainly not in jail)...not so wierd.
You also mention these "boys" who are 18 and shouldn't have to deal with this because they are only 18. Yes they are young, but they are certainly old enough to know right from wrong and know the consequences surrounding their actions.
If they are arrested, they are guilty. Right guys!
Comment by Allen Bunch — January 9, 2009 @ 11:32 am
If you try to make the jail 'too' appealing, the people without the roof over their heads and going hungry will probably find some way to get into there.
Look at some of the prisons in the country... cable tv, exercise equipment, little (if any) real work, libraries, college/high school training and classes, 3 hot meals a day, moderate access to drugs, no responsibilities...
Comment by Marked Man — January 9, 2009 @ 11:37 am
yes Marked, and let's not forget that these are criminals in there and we as tax payers would be the ones to pay for any extras. I for one don't care to pay for a criminal in jail to have extra food when he/she already gets 3 free meals a day...I don't get 3 free meals a day.
Comment by Marked Man — January 9, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
The jail situation is not simply that the inmates weren't given luxury meals, but they were not given adequate nutrition. The prison was given $1.75 per day for food. I don't know what one can get wholesale, but I doubt that spending the entire $1.75 is going to give the prisoners such great meals that people will be committing crimes just to get into jail. The sheriff was spending less than half of the allotment and pocketing the rest - he spent about 90 cents per day per prisoner on their food. Yes, it is prison (and I believe we need to seriously rethink how we are using our prisons) but the prisoners should be given at least a minimum nutritional diet.
Comment by Joe (ntp) Merola — January 10, 2009 @ 10:24 am
People shoud bear in mind that the news story was about one Sheriff in a distant jurisdiction. I can't help but wonder from whom they hear these horror stories about the NRV Regional Jail. An inmate maybe? Heaven knows a criminal would never lie.
I have seen the meals served locally. They meet the nutrition standards established by law and while they are by no means gourmet, they are quite comparable to the same meals served in our public schools. Personally, I don't believe we should afford our prisoners better fare than we do our school kids. I also have no problem with inmates or their families having to purchase personal items. After all, if they were free, would they not have to purchase their own items? And as to the jails charging exhorbitant prices for these items, does anyone actually have knowledge of this, or is this just more of the same old, "my friend's friend said her cousin's son was in jail and it was really bad?" And has anyone considered that the jails may need to use the money from these sales to augment the insufficient funds the state and local governments provide to operate these facilities. You people act like jails are profit making private businesses and they only spend $1.75 per meal by choice rather than because that's all the government provides in their budgets.
Additionally, there are a couple of reasons for some of the "awful" conditions mentioned above. Inmates in modern jails and prisons don't have individual cells unless they are some type of high risk or special circumstance. They are housed in dorms with multiple beds in big rooms. They also spend their waking hours in large common ares where they are in constant contact with other inmates. And despite the apparent misbelief that the jails are full of unfortunate underprivileged people who arrived there by chance, there are actually some bad people in jail.
For those reasons, some lights have to be left on at all times so the jailors can see what is going on in the cell blocks. That is so they can prevent inmates from assaulting one another, etc. If they were to turn the lights off and not keep watch and an inmate were victimized, or committed suicide, or tripped on the way to the toilet, they jail would be sued for failing to maintain adequate supervision of inmates.
Or another for instance, perhaps an inmate gets out and tells the horror story of not being allowed to have bread. He probably forgot to mention being caught using the bread (yeast) to ferment home-made alcohol.
But the thing that bothers me the most about this, like most issues, is how people hear a story third hand and assume they know all about an issue, all the while remaining blissfully ignorant about the facts. But best of all, I love the argument implying that the 'misused' jails and prisons are packed full of people convicted of first time possession of pot, or even cocaine.
The non-criminal public should certainly direct how the prison and justice systems work, but, instead of simply buying every story the media spins or believing every biased anecdote they hear, they should actually avail themselves to the facts when forming an opinion. And while I doubt many people are committing crimes to get in jail for the food, I have known a few habitual drunks who have been interdicted by the courts and purposely go out in public drunk at the end of November so they can spend the winter months in jail. They call it "three hots and a cot." It is a sad commentary on how society, not government but society, has addressed homelessness and addiction, but it is not the fault of the corrections system, a system which society (and again that's society - you know, us, the populace) chooses to provide the absolute bare minimum of funding necessary to perform its function.
RSS feed 
Using this as an "Open Thread," I hope I will be forgiven if I am posting in the wrong place.
at msnbc.msn.com/id/28546669/ an article entitled "Sheriff jailed as inmates claim lack of food."
From what I have heard from several sources, this story could be written about the New River Jail at Dublin.
First of all, I am not defending anyone who is in jail. If you do the crime, do the time. I do think even prisoners should be fed.
The families must leave money for the inmates to buy food from a for profit snack bar or commisary inside the jail to supplement their diet, I am not sure what it is called, due to the skimpy food they are given. Out of $20.00 left for the inmate, $17.00 goes to the inmates account. A package of Raman Noodles sells for .79. The inmates must also buy deoderant, underwear, toothpaste, any necessity, from the jail. I am sure the price is higher then if the family was permitted to purchase these items. All this puts a hardship on the family as they do not wish to see their son/brother/husband go hungry because the state wishes to profit from their loved ones mistakes.
Another problem is visitation. Only a short time one night a week. No weekend or Sunday visits. On these short visits the relatives are forced to wait hours. NO Christmas visit or gifts, but!! For $20.00 payable to the jail, a Christmas stocking was given the inmate. This stocking had a hearty sandwich in it. I do not know what else it contained. But the family had to pay for it.
They also have their own telephone system. You must register and pay into the system. I believe it to be $20.00 for seven minutes. Not quite sure of that.
I do not wish for anyone to tell me how the tax payers are paying for these prisoners. It appears they are paying for themselves and someone is making a profit!
Thank you for any suggestions as how to better the situation there. I think it is a disgrace.
I am not sure where to go with this, I hope there is an investigative reporter with the Roanoke Times who can look into it. I am not permitted to even talk to the inmates as I am on no ones visitor list.
Comment by Mary — January 8, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Gosh Mary. It sounds almost like jail
Comment by Henry — January 8, 2009 @ 11:10 am
I'd prefer a return to prisons like Alcatraz. No TV, no library, no gym, absolutely no frills...just hard time in a cell with an ocassional chance to go outside and walk the yard. The fact that prison is better for many criminals than life on the outside is, well, it should not be that way. Prison is not supposed to be a vacation, it's prison.
Comment by Other John — January 8, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Henry, I'll bet you and OJ hate the ACLU too, don't you?
Comment by Allen Bunch — January 8, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
Not really, although they do an awful lot of fairly ridiculous things while ignoring others that ought to be considered equally important. But since it doesn't fit with their political motives, they ignore just about anything that could benefit a conservative ideal, but will go out of their way to push forward liberal ideology...completely regardless of the Constitution, civil liberites, or common sense. That's my only beef with the ACLU. They are very one-sided in a political sense, rather than being one-sided for the American people and standing up for ALL of our rights.
Comment by Other John — January 8, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
The Anti Christian Lawyers Union? You darn tootin.
Comment by Henry — January 8, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
I would like to know why we are not standing up to these Hamas supporters in the U.S. They are nothing but terrorists themselves.
We had better take hold and push back hard against these people her in the U.S. As you can see they have a strong foothold and get whatever they want by people being afraid to confront them.
That only makes them stronger.
We batter do whatever it takes to let these people know that there hamas freinds are terrorists and we will push them put.
I suggest we organize and push hard by what ever means neccessary.
Comment by HERB KREBS — January 8, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
"But the family had to pay for it."
Dennis Hopper said it best, "A single tear rolls down my cheek..." These aren't homeless shut-ins. They're likely in jail because they did something naughty. The family has to pay for a Christmas stocking? They should be lucky they even get that. This isn't toys-for-tots. It's jail. Please feel free to leave your doors unlocked should *you* feel bad for thieves this holiday. I don't feel the State (the taxpayers) owe convicted criminals a Christmas stocking.
That jail must be selling a *lot* of $0.79 ramen noodles to pay for guards, power, supplies, etc. and still turn a profit.
"I do think even prisoners should be fed."
Let's consider this a moment. When I need to eat, I have to go an *buy food*. However, you said, "due to the skimpy food they are given"... So the inmates can buy food (just like I have to), but they are also *given* food? I get no free State meal. How is this a hardship for them? It's hard having more?
"Another problem is visitation. Only a short time one night a week. No weekend or Sunday visits."
I see my family first thing in the morning and when I come home in the evening. It's much easier to do when you don't run foul of the law.
Comment by Ed S. — January 8, 2009 @ 8:58 pm
The ACLU has defended religious organizations as well. They defended Fred Phelps' Bigoted Baptist Church in Topeka Kansas when they wanted to protest the funerals of gays and soldiers.
They aren't one sided, they're all sided. And just because they defend people doesn't mean those involved with them personally agree with those they defend.
Talk about one sided.... lol
Comment by scott — January 8, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
Fred Phelps is not a church. He's a publicity organization. He's an anti-Christian crusader disguised as a church. That's why the Anti-Christian Lawyers Union decided to defend him. They aren't defending his "evangelism". They are defending his anti-Americanism and his belittling of the Christian church.
Comment by Henry — January 9, 2009 @ 6:46 am
In my recent article “The State should pray in Christ’s name,” (Roanoke Times, Nov. 30,) I spoke of the civilizing effects of Christianity on the world, using as an example the transformation that Christianity brought to the islands of Fiji in the 1800’s.
Dan Brown took strong exception to that idea in his response, “Christianity’s Uncivilizing Effects” in the December 3d Roanoke Times. Rather than bringing civilization, Brown said that missionaries from the London Missionary Society had traveled to gentle Tahiti in 1797 and begun a reign of “missionary terror.” They brought disease, slavery, torture and starvation. They started a war, giving the local chief, Pomare, liquor and guns to defeat rival chiefs and compel all Tahitians to become Christians.
Anyone who is the least bit familiar with Christian missions would find it hard to believe missionaries would commit such atrocities. A look at the history shows they did not; and Brown’s harmful falsehoods need to be corrected.
That particular war in Tahiti began because of rivalry between tribal chieftains over a pagan religion involving human sacrifice; and it was going on long before the arrival of any missionaries. At the time, the British and French were colonial rivals for Tahiti. Pomare was the chief who favored the British; and it was the British military (not the missionaries) who gave him firearms and helped him in battle. Thus when missionaries from the London Society arrived in 1797, warfare was already underway, Chief Pomare already had guns, and the European diseases that decimated the Tahitian population were already entrenched.
The missionaries actually worked for peace, in vain as it turns out. But the son of Pomare, Pomare II, eventually became a believer in Jesus Christ. He went on to win the war – and then astounded his enemies by doing an unbelievable thing. He pardoned them all and did not slaughter their wives and families, or burn their houses. This was the first major difference Christianity made in Tahitian culture. Pomare II went on to produce Tahiti’s first written code of law in 1819 which established protections for life and property, observance of the Sabbath, and the sanctity of marriage. So we again see the civilizing effects of Judeo-Christian influence.
In his book, The Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin wrote concerning Tahiti: “human sacrifices…infanticide…bloody wars where the conquerors spared neither women nor children…all these have been abolished…by the introduction of Christianity.” If Darwin recognized the civilizing power of Christ, it would be good if his present-day followers would exhibit the same intellectual honesty.
Part of the problem is critics like Brown fail to consider the reality of Christian conversion. But history cannot deny this two-thousand-year, world-wide phenomenon. It seems to be not for the proud but for those Jesus called the “poor in spirit;” those who, seeing their sin and spiritual bankruptcy before God, reach out for the pardon and forgiveness that flows from Calvary. Those people, knowing the joy of Christ in their lives, understand very well why Jesus commanded after he had conquered death, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Tom Taylor
http://www.iLuvgoodnovels.com
Comment by Tom Taylor — January 9, 2009 @ 7:56 am
I have to completely agree with everyone's response to Mary's gripes with the way jails are run...you are all 100% right, it is JAIL. But, here's a thought that crossed my mind:
They leave the lights on 100% of the time...which is another way to punish the inmates (it may not be THE reason they leave them on, but it sure would suck to never have the lights off). But, what if they started turning them off at least for a couple of hours at night...I wonder how much $$ they would save in electricity??
Comment by HCS — January 9, 2009 @ 8:48 am
I wonder if the jails are having to set their thermostat temps locked at a mandatory 65 degrees as I understand that the good Governor decided to do to every office over at Tech?? Talk about making someone uncomfortable...
Comment by Marked Man — January 9, 2009 @ 8:55 am
Thank you for the comments re: the New River Jail.
As I have never had any dealing with jail or anyone in jail, until talking to some young men recently in a session who had served 3 and more months there.
The thought of even prisoners not having enough to eat bothers me. Especially when it is boys barely 18 who made stupid mistakes. None were drug related BTW.
It also bother me, having to buy all necessary items there. If they do not have the money do they go without toothpaste, underwear, deoderant etc.?
I found the "Christmas Stocking" the family paid for connected to food, rather strange. They know darn well they are depriving these people of enough to eat.
I know there are those who do not have a roof over their heads and going hungry. My family tries to help those also.
Comment by Mary — January 9, 2009 @ 9:47 am
Mary, I am a little confused as to what you thought jail was supposed to be? Sure they aren't eating five course meals, but they are given meals everyday...it may not be good, and it may not be a lot but they are not starving to death with their only means of survival a pack of ramen noodles.
Also, why is food in the stocking strange? What else would a family give someone in jail? And I put food in my daughter's stocking (who is 2 and most certainly not in jail)...not so wierd.
You also mention these "boys" who are 18 and shouldn't have to deal with this because they are only 18. Yes they are young, but they are certainly old enough to know right from wrong and know the consequences surrounding their actions.
Comment by HCS — January 9, 2009 @ 10:14 am
If they are arrested, they are guilty. Right guys!
Comment by Allen Bunch — January 9, 2009 @ 11:32 am
If you try to make the jail 'too' appealing, the people without the roof over their heads and going hungry will probably find some way to get into there.
Look at some of the prisons in the country... cable tv, exercise equipment, little (if any) real work, libraries, college/high school training and classes, 3 hot meals a day, moderate access to drugs, no responsibilities...
Comment by Marked Man — January 9, 2009 @ 11:37 am
yes Marked, and let's not forget that these are criminals in there and we as tax payers would be the ones to pay for any extras. I for one don't care to pay for a criminal in jail to have extra food when he/she already gets 3 free meals a day...I don't get 3 free meals a day.
Comment by HCS — January 9, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Yes HCS, ame.... oops *takes moment of silence*
Comment by Marked Man — January 9, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
The jail situation is not simply that the inmates weren't given luxury meals, but they were not given adequate nutrition. The prison was given $1.75 per day for food. I don't know what one can get wholesale, but I doubt that spending the entire $1.75 is going to give the prisoners such great meals that people will be committing crimes just to get into jail. The sheriff was spending less than half of the allotment and pocketing the rest - he spent about 90 cents per day per prisoner on their food. Yes, it is prison (and I believe we need to seriously rethink how we are using our prisons) but the prisoners should be given at least a minimum nutritional diet.
Comment by Joe (ntp) Merola — January 10, 2009 @ 10:24 am
People shoud bear in mind that the news story was about one Sheriff in a distant jurisdiction. I can't help but wonder from whom they hear these horror stories about the NRV Regional Jail. An inmate maybe? Heaven knows a criminal would never lie.
I have seen the meals served locally. They meet the nutrition standards established by law and while they are by no means gourmet, they are quite comparable to the same meals served in our public schools. Personally, I don't believe we should afford our prisoners better fare than we do our school kids. I also have no problem with inmates or their families having to purchase personal items. After all, if they were free, would they not have to purchase their own items? And as to the jails charging exhorbitant prices for these items, does anyone actually have knowledge of this, or is this just more of the same old, "my friend's friend said her cousin's son was in jail and it was really bad?" And has anyone considered that the jails may need to use the money from these sales to augment the insufficient funds the state and local governments provide to operate these facilities. You people act like jails are profit making private businesses and they only spend $1.75 per meal by choice rather than because that's all the government provides in their budgets.
Additionally, there are a couple of reasons for some of the "awful" conditions mentioned above. Inmates in modern jails and prisons don't have individual cells unless they are some type of high risk or special circumstance. They are housed in dorms with multiple beds in big rooms. They also spend their waking hours in large common ares where they are in constant contact with other inmates. And despite the apparent misbelief that the jails are full of unfortunate underprivileged people who arrived there by chance, there are actually some bad people in jail.
For those reasons, some lights have to be left on at all times so the jailors can see what is going on in the cell blocks. That is so they can prevent inmates from assaulting one another, etc. If they were to turn the lights off and not keep watch and an inmate were victimized, or committed suicide, or tripped on the way to the toilet, they jail would be sued for failing to maintain adequate supervision of inmates.
Or another for instance, perhaps an inmate gets out and tells the horror story of not being allowed to have bread. He probably forgot to mention being caught using the bread (yeast) to ferment home-made alcohol.
But the thing that bothers me the most about this, like most issues, is how people hear a story third hand and assume they know all about an issue, all the while remaining blissfully ignorant about the facts. But best of all, I love the argument implying that the 'misused' jails and prisons are packed full of people convicted of first time possession of pot, or even cocaine.
The non-criminal public should certainly direct how the prison and justice systems work, but, instead of simply buying every story the media spins or believing every biased anecdote they hear, they should actually avail themselves to the facts when forming an opinion. And while I doubt many people are committing crimes to get in jail for the food, I have known a few habitual drunks who have been interdicted by the courts and purposely go out in public drunk at the end of November so they can spend the winter months in jail. They call it "three hots and a cot." It is a sad commentary on how society, not government but society, has addressed homelessness and addiction, but it is not the fault of the corrections system, a system which society (and again that's society - you know, us, the populace) chooses to provide the absolute bare minimum of funding necessary to perform its function.
Comment by C Ramsey — January 10, 2009 @ 11:35 am