Posted on 09/13/2002 12:24:23 PM PDT by ZGuy
The Eighth Amendment to our Constitution says even if we've broken the law, our government can't inflict cruel and unusual punishment on us. Some prisoners say that's exactly what's going on when they're given "the loaf."
"The loaf" is bread with milk, carrots and potatoes added for nutrition, so it's a full meal. At some prisons, inmates who keep misbehaving get the loaf with water and raw cabbage, instead of regular prison food. Corrections officers say they need tools like the loaf because managing prisoners is a scary job. Some prisoners feel they have nothing left to lose — maybe they're in for life or maybe they're just angry people. After weightlifting all day, some of them are HUGE. At many prisons, prisoners outnumber guards 10 to 1, and guards are unarmed because no one wants a prisoner to get hold of a gun.
So, to keep order, prisons develop systems of reward and punishment. Good behavior gets you privileges, like more outdoor exercise time, or the ability to work at a job for money. Bad behavior means you lose something — maybe TV time, headphones, phone time, or family visits, or finally, in a few states, regular prison meals. Hence the loaf.
Prison officials say they need the loaf because even when they put prisoners in solitary confinement, some still act out.
"They throw feces. They spit it out of their mouths," said Courtney Bennett, a New York corrections officer.
"I've been hit with urine, feces," said Mark Lee, another New York corrections officer.
Many guards have been hit, but they say it's much better since they started using the loaf.
Bennett said the loaf works better than solitary confinement in disciplining prisoners.
"The way to a man's heart is his stomach. That's the saying," said Bennet. "If it isn't any good, they'll straighten up to get a regular meal."
Food as Punishment
But now prisoners are suing the prison system, claiming the loaf is cruel — "causing pain and suffering." For that and other injustices, they want millions of dollars in damages.
Some prison-reform advocates, like Jennifer Wynn of the Correctional Association, author of Inside Rikers, agree with the suits.
"When you come across inmates who are living on bread and water in solitary confinement, you know it's terrible," said Wynn.
But the loaf has carrots and potatoes in it. Is this cruel and unusual punishment?
"Absolutely. The loaf is using food as punishment," Wynn said.
Wynn said the prisoners who throw their feces are mentally ill and should get counseling.
The prison guards laugh at Wynn's suggestion.
"You can counsel them all day. But they're still going to throw," said Bennett.
"They do get counseling if they ask for it. But they don't want it," Bennett said. "They want to throw feces … You walk off the gallery and all of a sudden you're dripping with urine and feces and they're talking about the loaf as inhumane. Walking off the gallery with feces on you is inhumane."
The prison gave me a sample of the loaf. I was surprised. It tastes fine — just like bread.
The loaf is cruel and unusual? Give me a break.
I agree. They are mentally ill, and should be medicated with copper-jacketed lead, delivered by high-speed intracranial injection.
No, Jennifer, punishment would be withholding all food and starving them to death. They could live a long, vicious life on the loaf. It just wouldn't be any fun for them.
"They throw feces. They spit it out of their mouths," said Courtney Bennett, a New York corrections officer.
I would love to see this happen to you, Jennifer. You deserve it.
No, you stupid woman. It's the criminals in solitary confinement that are terrible.
Time to go on a diet.
Imal
me thinks ms. wynn is mentally ill and should get counseling! This whole story makes me ill. they are suing because they are only fed this 'loaf' when they act up? they say it's cruel and unusual punishment?
i think they're lucky to live in America where prisoners get better treatment than homeless people who sometimes don't eat for days, i'd like to shove this 'loaf' down their throats for being so damn arrogant.....arrrg.
I believe the proper medical term is "ballistic infusion." As in "remote ballistic infusion of copper-jacketed lead."
(steely)
Food as punishment? Have the food service company that feeds the college students in my town do the food at that prison, and I'll show you cruel and unusual (and unidentifiable) punishment.
Probably not the loaf they were worried about when they were sentenced...
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