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After all, they have rights too...
Published on September 5, 2007 By Trudygolightly In Current Events

The inmates in Dakota County, MN. have it soooooooo bad,  my GOD!  Seven days a week,  365 days a year,  they get to have two bologna sandwiches,  along with fruit, like an orange and cookies and chips.   

That's what they get,  5 days a week,  and on weekends they get two meals a day.  Brunch and supper.  They threw a fit claiming it was against their "rights" to have sooo many hours between meals,  as breakfast was at 7,  lunch at noon and brown bag supper at 4:00 p.m.

They complained that they weren't getting enough calories,  probably not enough nutrition,  and meals so far apart on weekends left them hungry.

There was,  for the record,  11 letters of complaint,  received by the Dept. of Corrections since January 2004,  seven about the food. 

Their meals are monitered by a dietician each year,  the Dept. of Corrections said,  and the Dept. of Corrections changed the time between meals on weekends,  and also told the inmates that they're welcome to have cereal in the morning if they want it.  They claimed they weren't aware of that.

They ( the inmates) also have access to vending machines,  and weekly canteens operated by TW Vending,  which offers junk food,  convenience foods by store items on a form,  ramen noodles,  and coffee.

Dear Lord,   maybe if they ( the inmates)  had been out working for a living,  even if it's flipping burgers,  instead of holding people up at gunpoint,  maybe if they had asked for help instead of stealing from someone's garage....they might have the money for better food.

Why should I feel bad if they're eating bologna for supper?  When I was working for a living,  I worked between 9 and 12 hour days to support my son and myself.  If we ate bologna it was because we had a choice, that we'd earned!

 I say LET them eat bologna!  IF they're lucky it might be Oscar Meyer!!

BTW,  the article,  by Frederic Melo,  is in the St. Paul Pioneer Press,  and is far more detailed...at

 http://www.twincities.com/ci_6788922?source=most_emailed


Comments (Page 2)
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on Sep 06, 2007
I guess I would have to say that they don't deserve decent meals but adequate meals. Bologna may be an adequate meal but every day? Even I'm not that cruel. I mean if we gonna keep them alive as oppose to capital murder we should give them variety at least. Criminal or not we are not monsters, we should drop to their level just because they were dumb enough to commit a crime. the innocent ones? Well, our system isn't perfect and there will always be mistakes. O I disagree and agree at the same time I guess. Is that possible?
on Sep 06, 2007
Prisoners should be kept healthy in case they're innocent. After proven guilty, then treat them badly, if you're going to.
on Sep 06, 2007
After proven guilty, then treat them badly, if you're going to.


Yeah, that's a great way to act like the leader of the world.
on Sep 07, 2007

Wow.

Just wow.

You're really rotten, Trudy.

Why San,  am I getting more like you? 

Let's see,  I haven't committed any crimes,  have worked for a living,  YEP I'm rotten...  hehe 

on Sep 07, 2007

To HELL with the Constitution.

I don't think any Constitutional rights are being violated since the county changed the number of hours between "feedings" for them.  People in hospitals go from 5 at night til 8 in the morning before breakfast.  So I truly fail to see the problem there. 


While we're at it, let's execute everyone who receives public assistance. Can't support THEIR sorry asses, either!

If "anyone" on public assistance was executed that would be murdering children, babies,  seniors,  and disabled people,  they're not the ones eating up the taxpayer's dollars to a very expensive tune.  However, comparing how much public assistance people cost tax payers, to criminals in jail is another whole blog Gid.

on Sep 07, 2007

I dont know about St.Paul's, but I do know that many jails allow inmates to purchase additional food from a commisary. So they could supplement their diet with other food stuff as well.

Yep,  and if they work in jail they can earn enought  ( even though the wages are ridiculously low) to get snax.  If one works in the kitchen,  as a trustee,  they can get extra treats ( free) as well as regular food.

( I've worked in two county jails as a cook,  once as a temp when the Sheriff's daughter had her baby and in 96 after having graduated from tech school for Institutional Cooking,  so I know that they can earn more.


Reply By: Dr GuyPosted: Thursday, September 06, 2007
The 365 days a year is a nice attention grabber

Exactly,  that's well said.  It was clarified at the end of the newspaper article too.

on Sep 07, 2007

It's convenient not tohave any sympathy for the down and out, but we must remember that most people in county lockups aren't the "hardcore" criminals of Oz, they're the lightweights, and, quite frequently, the truly innocent.

I didn't know you're a bleeding heart Gid,  and these guys ( and women too)  aren't "down and out",  they're the drunk drivers that kill your friends and family,  the men ( and women)  that beat a spouse and cause great bodily harm.  These so called "down and out" people have molested children,  stolen purses from peace loving citizens,  and many of them are hooked on Meth.  Really,  down and out?  I think not.

Lightweights?  A resounding NO WAY Gid.  And to quote you "quite frequently,  the truly innocent".  REally?  do you have statistics?  I don't,  however would sure make a bet most are guilty,  at least innocent til proven which probably is more often than not.

on Sep 07, 2007

we must remember that the majority in jails are, according to legal standing, innocent. We hold them for good reason. But we should also FEED them adequately.

They are fed sufficient caloric intake,  and according to a registerd dietician,  nutricious.  If one takes issue with the state of MN.,  Dakota county,  Dept. of Corrections for how they feed their inmates,  there's always the freedom to write to them. 

on Sep 07, 2007

both are funded by taxes, neither are helping society. So, why should one get better care than the other?

Those on public assistance are living poor,  yet honest,  lives.  THEY'RE not sitting jail for stealing,  robbery, assult,  rape, battery, drunk driving,  they're just poor.  Many of the public assistance peple are good people, and chances are they do help,  I know people on assistance that are volunteers,  which is a valuable resource,   many are working poor people just trying to get ahead.  I begrudge them NADA.  I DO resent the inmates whining about a couple of bologna sandwiches for supper,  when the money they've stolen was used for Meth.

why don't we just give staples to people on assistance? We used to. They can go to the welfare store and get dried beans, jars of no-name peanut butter, bologna, bread. But, I guess that's different, right?

No it isn't wrong Karma,  those on public assistance DO get staples,  from the government,  they're called commodities and they're handed out monthly,  and are eligible also for "Ruby's Pantry" which gives away free food once every month,  this also supplements the food stamps.  The food IS beans, rice, peanutbutter, dry milk, dry cereal,  juice, ect.

on Sep 07, 2007

Reply By: dharmagrlPosted: Thursday, September 06, 2007
I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one, Trudy.

That's ok with me,  that's your right and you're welcome to disagree here.

I'd like for the people who think that this is acceptable behaviour to give it a try. Do a 'Supersize Me' trial and eat nothing but bologna sandwiches and potato chips for a month. Space your meals out so they're 14 hours apart on the weekends. Maybe then they'll have a change of heart about the nutritional requirements of inmates

I've "been there and done that".  My first husband and I ate pinto beans and oatmeal for every meal,  for two weeks,  until we got our first paychecks,  after moving to St. Paul.  We didn't go out and rob someone,  steal a gal's purse,  we went out and got JOBS. 

   I said above,  those that are jailed can earn extra food and treats by working in the kitchen,  the number of hours was changed by the Dept. of Corrections,  it's mentioned in the newspaper article,  and in most public places like hospitals and nursing homes,  the normal supper hour is 5 with nothing til 8 a.m.  However the seniors in nursing homes,  and also the ill in hospitals, get a nourishment at 8 p.m. as they don't usually eat enough or feel too sick to consume the correct nutrients.

 

on Sep 07, 2007

Criminal or not we are not monsters, we should drop to their level just because they were dumb enough to commit a crime. the innocent ones? Well, our system isn't perfect and there will always be mistakes. O I disagree and agree at the same time I guess. Is that possible?

No we're not monsters,  and I don't think "we're dropping to their level" just because they're not getting more variety at night.  According to the article,  some of it is due to the old "you know what" $$$$$

Ya people can and do agree and disagree at the same time  

Reply By: CharlesCS1Posted: Thursday, September 06, 2007
I guess I would have to say that they don't deserve decent meals but adequate meals

The state does that,  they have a registerd dietician that checks the nutritional content of meals once a year.

on Sep 07, 2007

Reply By: JythierPosted: Thursday, September 06, 2007
Prisoners should be kept healthy in case they're innocent. After proven guilty, then treat them badly, if you're going to

The newspaper article stated that the prisoners come out actually healthier as some weren't eating at all,  I would imagine (  just a guess here..)  that some are Meth users and weren't eating prior to getting caught.

If they're proven guilty,  then they can be sentenced appropriately,  well according to law anyway.....I"ve heard that child molesters don't fare well in prison...I sure hope they don't fare well in prison!  Have you watched some of these jail shows on tv?  or watched the prison shows?  A LOT of those guys ( and women,  don't want to leave out anyone)  get pretty hefty in prison. 

 

on Sep 07, 2007
No it isn't wrong Karma, those on public assistance DO get staples, from the government, they're called commodities and they're handed out monthly, and are eligible also for "Ruby's Pantry" which gives away free food once every month, this also supplements the food stamps. The food IS beans, rice, peanutbutter, dry milk, dry cereal, juice, ect.


Yes, but the commodities are ALL they should get.

However, comparing how much public assistance people cost tax payers, to criminals in jail is another whole blog Gid.


No, it's not. We've explained why. That you're still too thickheaded to understand that explains a lot.

People who live their lives off of public assistance are parasites. They are leeches.

If one works in the kitchen, as a trustee, they can get extra treats ( free) as well as regular food.


See, and here's the deal. Can't work as a trustee until you're sentenced. So what does that mean? That the INNOCENT people in the jail eat baloney while the guilty get extras, as well as the "right" to steal the goodies off of the other inmates' trays.

These so called "down and out" people have molested children, stolen purses from peace loving citizens, and many of them are hooked on Meth


BULLSHIT, Trudy. Child molestors don't get sentenced to county lockup and you KNOW It!

"bleeding heart", no. CHRISTIAN, yes. Somehow I think throwing a bunch of shit junk food day after day at inmates is something God frowns on.

Those on public assistance are living poor, yet honest, lives.


Honest, no. They're stealing from the taxpayers rather than working to make a living. They're just another type of thief.

They are fed sufficient caloric intake, and according to a registerd dietician, nutricious.


As has been said before, if the "registered dietician" calls balogna nutritious, they need their livense revoked. Balogna is garbage food, period.

I don't, however would sure make a bet most are guilty, at least innocent til proven which probably is more often than not.


Yup. Being arrested means you're guilty. Why even bother with a trial.


Honestly, Trudy, I'm done here. You've proven yourself to be, in my opinio, a vile individual completely lacking in compassion. In my estimation, you're a leech on society who demands that your driver, underwritten by our tax dollars, acts as a personal limo service, and who looks down on the masses while living off of our paychecks.

In other words, you disgust me FAR beyond belief.
on Sep 07, 2007
No we're not monsters, and I don't think "we're dropping to their level" just because they're not getting more variety at night.


Sorry to disagree, again, truly but we are lowering ourselves when we make excuses about not having enough $$$$ to feed people, even if they are criminals. Especially in a country where we can pay for a war and every dumbass politician that does nothing. They were sent to pay for a crime. They payment is lock-up not starvation or punishment by eating only bologna. Even poor and homeless people have better and more variety to eat. Besides I don't think bologna is the cheapest thing out there.

If you wanna get technical here and we can claim the real problem is that these people just don't want to cook and find it easier just to slap some bologna between 2 pieces of bread as someone here mentioned, then we can always add ham, cheese, salami, wheat bread, butter, mayo and all of this would be healthy and nutritious. Hell, even peanut butter and jelly would still be good.
on Sep 07, 2007

No it isn't wrong Karma, those on public assistance DO get staples, from the government, they're called commodities and they're handed out monthly, and are eligible also for "Ruby's Pantry" which gives away free food once every month, this also supplements the food stamps. The food IS beans, rice, peanut butter, dry milk, dry cereal, juice, etc.

You didn't understand, or you are living in an alternate reality.  I was saying that ALL people on assistance should get is staples, not ON TOP of food stamps.  I have been in line many times behind welfare recipients, and many times they are buying much more luxurious food than I buy.  They aren't buying beans and rice, they are buying steak, pre-made foods, and whatever they want.  What I am saying is that they should get old time food stamps- you take your stamps to the government food store, and you get your allowed beans, rice, dry milk, etc.  Heck, I guess, since it is dietitian approved, they should just get bologna sandwiches, cereal, potato chips and an orange for each day, right?

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