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.
"We have 100 faiths represented by DOC inmates, so it would be impossible to satisfy everyone's preferences and unfair to do it for one group and not another," agency spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. "We just have to look at what our mission is and what's best for our overall department and the overall population of inmates in our system instead of a smaller group."
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.
I was concerned when I first saw this about the rights the people would have to their diets. The department makes a good argument for its position on the issue though. It would be very hard to meet the demands of every group that is in prison, and meeting the needs of one sets the standard for others. It sounds like they are attempting a middle ground, by serving vegetarian and vegan foods. It should be remembered that one these people are in jail because they broke the law, and that their food is being paid for by tax payers.
Which brings me to an idea that I have. The prisoners work in jail, maybe they could be offered slightly better meals - and they could pay a little extra with the money that they are making from their prison work.
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