2008 Woodie Awards
The tofurkey redemption
Editorial
DI Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
When criminals are sentenced to jail time, whether 30 days in a county facility or consecutive life sentences in a state penitentiary, they lose the freedom to live the lifestyle of their choice. Guilty sentences determine that they made the decision for themselves the moment they committed the crime, knowing full well the risks involved should they be caught. The criminals chose to jeopardize their freedoms, feeling that the outcome of the misdeed was worth the risk. Convicts have no privileges (unless later warranted by good behavior), only the most basic of human rights.
Polk County inmate Matthew Waddle admits he stole more than $13,000 from two Iowa banks. He also claims, despite using a gun in one robbery and a knife in another, that he's not a fan of violence. "I believe in peace and that we should all get along, and I don't think killing animals is right." Waddle's convictions didn't keep him from committing his offenses, but they are keeping him from eating the food offered to him by the Polk County Jail, because he claims to be a vegetarian. Now he's threatening - a term used loosely here - a hunger strike if he is not given food that meets with his approval.
Jail authorities are reasonable. They will accommodate dietary needs if an inmate's religion dictates different fare from the standard offered. They will also make arrangements for inmates with nutritional needs required because of medical conditions, such as gluten or peanut allergies or diabetes. Waddle, however, does not cry foul for religious or health reasons, he just claims to be a vegetarian.
The concept of imprisonment is one of punishment; separation from society and from a normal lifestyle of individual choice. When entering jail, at least in Johnson County, individuals have the ability through paperwork and communication with officials to declare any special needs. A fine line exists between civil accommodation and pampering. Reasonable modifications must be made to make life habitable and not unnecessarily harsh, but a request by an inmate or group of inmates for a specific brand of toilet paper or a larger television shouldn't be taken seriously. Concessions made for one inmate can set precedent, leading other inmates to believe (and justly so) that they deserve the same treatment as any other prisoner.
A spokesman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office says jail officials have also denied other requests Waddle has made, such as books on hate and violence, and they believe that the threatened hunger strike is just another example of an inmate attempting to manipulate the system, an assertion that seems reasonable considering that Waddle hasn't had an issue with his prison meals for the 10 months he's already spent there. Whether or not this is true, vegetarian and kosher meals should be offered to prisoners, provided that doing so doesn't require extravagant amounts of additional effort or budget on the part of officials.
An inmate opting for veggies over meat shouldn't be that big of a deal, but it also shouldn't open the door for more frivolous requests. Whether or not Waddle gets his greens isn't for him, or us, to decide. The officials in charge of his care have their jobs for a reason, and it's up to them to determine whether a specific request is reasonable or not.
Polk County inmate Matthew Waddle admits he stole more than $13,000 from two Iowa banks. He also claims, despite using a gun in one robbery and a knife in another, that he's not a fan of violence. "I believe in peace and that we should all get along, and I don't think killing animals is right." Waddle's convictions didn't keep him from committing his offenses, but they are keeping him from eating the food offered to him by the Polk County Jail, because he claims to be a vegetarian. Now he's threatening - a term used loosely here - a hunger strike if he is not given food that meets with his approval.
Jail authorities are reasonable. They will accommodate dietary needs if an inmate's religion dictates different fare from the standard offered. They will also make arrangements for inmates with nutritional needs required because of medical conditions, such as gluten or peanut allergies or diabetes. Waddle, however, does not cry foul for religious or health reasons, he just claims to be a vegetarian.
The concept of imprisonment is one of punishment; separation from society and from a normal lifestyle of individual choice. When entering jail, at least in Johnson County, individuals have the ability through paperwork and communication with officials to declare any special needs. A fine line exists between civil accommodation and pampering. Reasonable modifications must be made to make life habitable and not unnecessarily harsh, but a request by an inmate or group of inmates for a specific brand of toilet paper or a larger television shouldn't be taken seriously. Concessions made for one inmate can set precedent, leading other inmates to believe (and justly so) that they deserve the same treatment as any other prisoner.
A spokesman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office says jail officials have also denied other requests Waddle has made, such as books on hate and violence, and they believe that the threatened hunger strike is just another example of an inmate attempting to manipulate the system, an assertion that seems reasonable considering that Waddle hasn't had an issue with his prison meals for the 10 months he's already spent there. Whether or not this is true, vegetarian and kosher meals should be offered to prisoners, provided that doing so doesn't require extravagant amounts of additional effort or budget on the part of officials.
An inmate opting for veggies over meat shouldn't be that big of a deal, but it also shouldn't open the door for more frivolous requests. Whether or not Waddle gets his greens isn't for him, or us, to decide. The officials in charge of his care have their jobs for a reason, and it's up to them to determine whether a specific request is reasonable or not.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Miketh
posted 11/28/07 @ 8:35 AM CST
Give him his vegetables, but fry them in animal fat.
RegularJoe
posted 11/28/07 @ 10:06 AM CST
Surprisingly, I'm with Miketh on this.
The only reason anyone should get special meals is if they have a medical reason - food allergies, etc. We shouldn't impose a death sentence (or serious illness, either) on folks just because they're incarcerated (think 'peanut allergy'). (Continued…)
UpsetTummy
posted 11/28/07 @ 11:29 AM CST
Force them to eat IMU food. THAT'LL keep them out of jail.
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