Signing helps to encourage law markers of Nevada to break the contract with Aramark. Two years is enough time to discuss it; it is now time for action! 

“Prison food is known for being awful and lacking in nutrition. But what if prisoners had access to healthy food? And what if they learned how to grow their own food and developed cooking skills they could use when released (Robbins, 2018)?”

 

According to a study conducted by the Sentencing Project on December 12, 2020, the number of incarcerated individuals in Nevada stands at 413 per 100,000 residents, making it the 18th highest rate among the 50 states. That gives a total of about 12,840 people imprisoned in Nevada. Some of these individuals will be released after their time served, but the question is, in what condition will these individuals be released? Another study conducted by Wallace & Wang (2020) points out that incarceration is associated with a considerable number of poor health outcomes, naming poor nutrition as one of the causes. As incarcerated individuals are fed poorly, they may experience difficulty maintaining good health. The point of incarceration is that it is meant to deter future criminal activity. There are multiple collateral consequences of how the incarcerated are treated, for example, influencing future criminality and worsening reentry statistics due to their health being negatively affected.

 

It is well known that prison food is notorious for being "bad" and lacking proper nutrition. As Wallace and Wang argue, a prisoner's physical and mental health is affected by bad food and inadequate nutrition. This can lead to the individual having poor health, which impacts their mental and physical health, which, as they pointed out, reduces their ability to contribute to society when released. It is a fact that a healthy brain needs adequate nutrition to function correctly. Ramsbotham & Gesch (2009) documented in their study that crime and incarceration rates are highest in the most nutritionally deprived communities. Currently, prisoners at Southern Desert Correction Center in Unit 8 are given, for example, apple sauce, stale potatoes, and stale bread for dinner and a peanut butter (only) sandwich for lunch. They are starving, and the portions of the food they are being given are unhealthy and extremely minimal. Unit 8 is a segregation unit that was built in 1988 and is a concrete masonry unit and steel structure on a concrete slab-on-grade foundation. A painted stucco system covers the exterior walls, and the roofing is a single-ply PVC from Sarnafil. This building has 200 cells, each with a stainless-steel combination toilet, a lavatory unit, showers, and a central guard station. The prisoners are housed here for their safety; some have lived in these conditions for over four years.

 

Many prisoners suffer from nutritional deficiencies that may contribute to hostility in prisons, especially those in Unit 8, as they are fed less and unhealthy portions. It implores the question, what would happen if prisoners were provided a nutrient-dense menu? Is it possible that the rates of cooperation and successful rehabilitation would rise? Is it possible that if we fed prisoners better food, some of them would be more likely to succeed in the real world after they’ve done their time?

 

It is time that the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) take accountability for its mission statement that concerns all prisoners:

 

“It is the mission of the Nevada Department of Corrections to protect society by maintaining offenders in safe and humane conditions while preparing them for successful reentry into society. We operate as one Team, proud of our reputation as leaders in corrections. Our staff will utilize innovative programming focusing on education, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and vocational training as the cornerstones to an offender’s rehabilitation.”

 

The first step towards keeping offenders in safe and humane conditions is ensuring they are adequately fed so their health can be maintained; a healthy body and mind can lead to healthy decisions, which will prepare them for successful reentry into society. Furthermore, stop the inhumane treatment of the men at Southern Desert Correctional Center in Unit 8. They are there because they made the right choices, don’t punish them for that; they’ll be released back into society afterward. Don’t kick a man when he is down, as “we are fortunate people. It is our need and responsibility to help our fellow man (John Morgridge).”

"Over 25 offenders involved in hunger strike at Ely State Prison (ktnv.com)

The strike began Dec. 1, 2022, mostly in protest of the food portions being served but also includes conditions of confinement, property issues and disciplinary sanctions."

"I think one of the things that I’ve experienced from meeting men and women who were incarcerated was that they wanted to feel humanized. They wanted people to know that they were human beings,” Common said."

 

 

Sources:

Ramsbotham, LD & Gesch, B. (2009) Crime and Nourishment: Cause for a rethink? Prison Serv J. 2009 Mar 1;182:3-9. PMID: 26722152; PMCID: PMC4693953

Robbins, O. (2018). “Can Improving Prison Food Help Rehabilitate Convicts, So They Don’t Reoffend? 20 Prisons and Organizations Around The World Are Finding Out.” Food Revolution Network. Published September 19, 2018. Retrieved Prison Food: What Could Happen If Prisoners had more Nutrition (foodrevolution.org)

Wallace, D. & Wang, W. (2020). “Does in-prison physical and mental health impact recidivism?” SSM - Population Health, 11, 100569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100569