Vegetarian Prison Systems

This is an idea I had a few weeks back for a non-profit organization. I probably won't be able to start/run it myself for at least four years (going to law school first) so feel free to take the idea and fly with it: A lobbying group to turn all prisons over to vegetarian food.

Four good reasons to do so:
1. Cheaper - meat is expensive
2. They're criminals- why should they be eating meat? (this is to convince the non-vegetarians to support this)
3. Better for the environment - that many less people eating meat will take a bite out of the meat industry
4. Healthier for the prisoners and studies have linked vegetarian diet to lower aggression levels

My one concern is that forcing vegetarianism on unwilling prisoners could result in cannabalism (strong prisoners killing and eating weaker ones). I hope that this would not happen, but considering the behavior that our current prison system promotes, this is a scary possibility.

If anyone wants to start a non-profit out of this idea, I'd suggest finding one prison and doing a study of the long-term effects of this policy (maybe 2 years) and then try to sell it to the wider public. Pehaps one of you humanities Phd candidates would try to carry this out as dissertation research...

Anyway, feel free to fly with it, or just spread the word or tell me why this is a ludicrous idea.

 

# 2. is rediculous and insulting....

but I agree with the rest.

It wouldn't be a bad idea

 

I agree.

I've (*thankfully*) never been incarcerated before <knock on wood>... But I've worked with direct action campaigns as "jail support" (entails following the car/wagon into the station or jail, learning what the charges are, communicating with the jailed individual, making sure they have all they need/can get to be as comfortable as possible, raising bail if they freak out...) and lemme tell you, the system in NV is absolutely RIDICULOUS as far as vegetarian options go. One friend of mine was actually living on hot dog buns and kool-aid for several days until they released her out of fear she would get sick from malnutrition.

On the other side of the spectrum, my partner did 3 months in Boulder (like 10 years ago) and he told them he was veg, and come meal time he'd get a big lovely fresh chunk of spinach lasagna or something while the other inmates were eating corndogs, etc. He said he ate better in jail than he did all the rest of the year!

 

I didn't mean to insult anyone with rationale #2. I just think it's a good argument to make to non-vegetarians who think that meat is essential. Instead of trying to convince them that they're wrong, have them view meat as a luxery item that a criminal does not deserve, i.e. "why should the government pay for a theif to eat meat every day when there are children starving out there..." or something to that affect. Obviously, I myself, a vegetarian, think all people are better off on a vegetarian diet (even without the whole "cruelty to animals issue", so if I really wanted to "punish" someone, I'd force meat on them leading to health problems and early death.

 

And really, there are a zillion and one religious/philisophical reasons for a person NOT to eat meat, but I can't think of a single reason TO eat it, except "It tastes good" or "I like it".

 

some people delude themselves with the health argument. I can't stand it when some overweight person with heart problems and diabetes starts lecturing me about how unhealthy my vegetarian diet is.

 

I think there should be more vegetarian options in prison, but why take away one of the few choices that people have in jail? We should be adding meal options instead of limiting them. I agree that vegetarianism is a better diet, but not everyone wants what is "better" for them...and people have a right to decide what goes in their bodies.

 

I'm not sure about this one, while the concept is good... I'm not sure about the moral issues regarding it, in my opinion, not all people in Jail deserve it, plus when they get out... they might not be so pro-vegetarian after having it forced upon them while they were there....

 

Oh yes... and I must agree with you Dimrod about the Hypocracy often encountered with these types of people,

 

that seems like a really good idea. but do you think the joining a religon think would be ok just to pick up the vegetarism and veganism. i dont think that that should be the only way but if it is, i guess its worth it.

 

That would be something to see.

 

prison is prison - it's not meant to be pleasant. If the prison diet could make people less agressive, then I'm sure prisoners would prefer to give up meat rather than get beaten up or raped by other prisoners. I agree that it could raise resentment against vegetarianism, but of all the horrible things that go on in prison, I doubt people will be coming out of it only angry over the lack of meat. I don't think that denying meat to prisoners is cruel or unusual or denying them any basic inalienable rights. I'm not advocating torture here, just one less harmful luxury.

 

sorry, I've just realised how my post could be interpreted,
I mean to say, Not all people in Jail deserve to be there,

Jerking off to slabs of cow? Mind if I go puke? heh,

 

some of the activits of the SHAC-7 put in cases against the new york prison system for refusing to serve them vegan meals. apparently they had to get by trading their meat for whatever was vegan that day, maybe some rice or soggy veggies cooked in who knows what and bread. they serve kosher and hallal meals to religious inmates, yet can't put together a vegan meal? they said it was a financial think but how much could it possibly cost to give someone some rice or pasta and some beans instead of meat?

 

Lets make this happen for real! Vote for my idea at Change.org - if we get enough votes then the idea will be presented to the Obama administration and funded for implementation.

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/vegetarian_diet_for_prisoners

 

Interesting.

I think conceptually you are onto something here. What I think would be more realistic would simply be a program to expand all prisons to even include a vegetarian option.

I don't know if the prison system is the right space to force a shift in diet. While you understand the truth about animals not being healthy to consume, do you really think that Joe Blow on a 6 month stint really deserves to have one more thing taken away? It's probably going to sound wild to you, but to some those little bits of meat they get in prison are something that they enjoy. I would think the result of having prisons go vegetarian would create an uncomfortable association between vegetarian lifestyle and criminals.
And hell, I'm a sucker for prisoners. Half of them are there for laws that shouldn't be on the books anyway. Fully promote making sure the choice is there, think it would be too restrictive to force entire prison system onto alternative diet.

 

ive been wondering the same thing my whole life