Prison Food

In prisons, where convicted criminals are involuntarily confined and deprived of certain liberties as a punishment for their crimes, the allocation and consumption of food is a particular challenge that extends beyond securing adequate supplies. Because prisoners forfeit the right to many of their individual food choices during incarceration, the responsibility of feeding them falls on prison authorities, the government, and society at large (taxpayer dollars contribute to prison funding). Because prisons are places of punishment and rehabilitation, determining what constitutes an appropriate diet for prisoners is not easily defined. While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that prisoners are entitled to enough food for adequate nutrition, the debate continues concerning the quality of diet, the protection of prisoners’ rights, whether food should be used ...