Posted on 02/23/2003 9:10:32 PM PST by mhking
Group Says a Vegetarian Diet Can Reduce Violence, Save Funds, Keep Inmate Health Costs Down, Reduce Recidivism
For Immediate Release:
February 14, 2003
Contact:
Joe Haptas 757-622-7382
PETA has sent a letter to Glenn S. Goord, commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services in Albany, giving him four good reasons to stop serving meat and other animal products to inmates and to place the entire prison population on a vegetarian diet.
PETA points out that instituting such a measure would do the following:
* save taxpayers money, because vegetarian foods are cheaper to purchase, transport, and store
* cut down on aggressive behavior associated with flesh consumption
* save the state the staggering health costs associated with an animal-based diet while serving nutritionally superior vegetarian meals to inmates
* reduce recidivism by providing a deterrent to convicts who are so addicted to meat, they’ll go straight just to avoid having to eat healthy "jailhouse" food
"I have to wonder why meat, which is taken as a sign of wealth and which encourages the ‘diseases of opulence,’ is fed to people in jail," says PETA’s Vegan Campaign coordinator Joe Haptas. "Feeding inmates exclusively vegan food sends a message to inmates and the public that our society isn’t molly-coddling them by providing the same food that they would have ordered from a menu were they not in prison."
PETA’s letter to Mr. Goord, which was copied to the governor, follows.
February 14, 2003
Glenn S. Goord, Commissioner
New York State Department of Correctional Services
Bldg. 2
1220 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12226-2050
2 pages via fax: 518-457-7252
Dear Commissioner Goord:
I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) more than 750,000 members and supporters to suggest that you consider adopting an exclusively vegetarian meal plan for your facility. This plan could reduce your recidivism rate, save taxpayers money, benefit your facility, and help the prisoners as well. Please let me explain.
Vegetarian food decreases aggressive behavior. Numerous prisons in Thailand and India, and even a few in the U.S., have successfully reduced violence with a regimen that includes vegetarian or vegan meals. The Victor Valley Medium Community Correctional Facility (Adelanto, Calif.) and Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center (Baltimore) have both reported success in using vegetarian meals in behavior modification programs. Doug Anglen, the director of food service of Victor Valley, has observed, "There is a noticeable difference in the personalities of the vegetarian inmates. They smile more, are fully racially integrated, attend religious classes and anger management classes eagerly. Within 10 days, the vegan inmates express improvement in how they feel."
A vegetarian program will cut your health care costs. Vegetarians have a fraction of the risk of heart disease, obesity, many cancers, stroke, and diabetes of those who consume animal products. A vegan diet contains no cholesterol, is low in fat, and can help reverse heart disease and cut cancer risk by 40 percent. Vegetarians have about one-fourth the obesity risk of meat-eaters, and vegans have one-tenth the risk. The bottom line: If you mandated vegetarian meals for your prison system, you would save money by decreasing prisoner health care costs.
A vegetarian program is cheaper. Vegetarian food is far less expensive than meat. Beans, rice, lentils, pasta, nuts, fruit, potatoes, and other vegetables contain all the nutrients a person needs but cost a fraction of the price of meat. A simple diet is also more in line with the concept of prison—why feed inmates so much high-fat, high-cholesterol, "high on the hog" fare, when vegan and vegetarian food is cheaper and better for them?
Vegetarian food stores efficiently, grows easily, and can be a part of your prison work program. Most vegetarian food ingredients can be shipped and stored dry and therefore can be transported and stored less expensively than meat, which is heavy and must be refrigerated. Many state and federal prisons now grow some of their own fruits and vegetables, instilling a sense of pride and responsibility when inmates are able to reap the benefits of their labor.
Vegetarian food may discourage some hopelessly meat-addicted convicts from reoffending. Admittedly, there are probably some inmates who will miss eating flesh, maybe because they see it as "comfort food" or maybe because they’re addicted to the fat or the various chemical, hormone, pesticide, and antibiotic residues in meat. However, as you know, it’s prison and not Club Med. If inmates dislike going without meat strongly enough, a program like this could further decrease recidivism.
Vegetarianism is for life—and for lifers! And for those passing through. I would be happy to supply you with tried-and-true vegetarian cafeteria menus and recipes used by various large institutions.
In closing, I have to wonder why meat, which is taken as a sign of wealth and which encourages the "diseases of opulence," is fed to people in jail. In addition to the benefits I’ve mentioned, feeding inmates exclusively vegan food sends a message to inmates—and the public—that our society isn’t molly-coddling them by providing the same food that they would have ordered from a menu were they not in prison.
Thank you very much for your serious consideration of my request. I look forward to working with you.
I can be reached at 757-622-7382, extension 1470, or via fax at 757-628-0784.
Sincerely,
Joe Haptas
Campaign Coordinator
cc: Governor George Pataki
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