Vegetarian Convictions
When Luther Hill was sent to prison in 2001, he knew there'd be some lifestyle changes. But he didn't expect his diet to be one of them. "I was surprised by the availability of better, healthier food," says Hill, 42, who is serving time in Idaho for drug possession. So he became a vegan: no animal products in his diet. Luckily for Hill, he's behind bars in Idaho, which boasts the country's most vegan-friendly state prison system, according to a new study by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which receives dozens of complaints each year from inmates about the lack of vegan prison food. PETA examined menus in every state, rating options like tofu cacciatore (Pennsylvania, No. 3) and vegetable fajitas (North Dakota, No. 10).
Vegan cuisine costs about as much as regular fare, according to multinational food provider Aramark, which serves most of PETA's favorite facilities, and it may even save taxpayers money in the long run because it can help reduce the bill for treating inmate health issues like diabetes and obesity. "In a system that encourages inmates to respect themselves, the process carries over to respecting their bodies," says George Little, Tennessee's Corrections Department commissioner. (His state's PETA rank: No. 8.)
Still, victims' rights groups balk at the prospect of convicts' eating better than some law abiders. "The general population isn't privy to nutritious, affordable food, while incarcerated persons are?" asks Janet Fine, director of the Office of Victim Assistance in Massachusetts, a state that, incidentally, PETA ranked No. 2 for its meatless macaroni casserole and veggie chop suey. In Idaho, Hill's fellow convicts are comfortable with his decision to go veggie. "I tell them how much better I feel and how soundly I sleep," he says. Who could have a beef with that?
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Member Comments
Posted By: bridgeta @ 02/11/2008 8:28:27 PM
Comment: ok, i agree with some of this....i DO NOT support peta b/c of the stuff they do regarding the burning of buildings and putting so many animals down..BUT when u r dising peta this does not give u room to dis the countless animals abused in the name of sicence, products, food, and human apperal, i think the vegan diet in prisons is great, and some ppl are just screwed up.....animals should be treated like ppl.....IF i went to a country were ppl would look and speak different then i, i would not treat them im a different way, so y would i do different to an animal......the world is overrun by ppl and causing more animals harm the ppl relize, but maybe im bringing up other issues, anyways im just posting my views and letting ppl know how i feel as an animal lover and not a crazy woman from peta :) id choose animals over ppl any day
Posted By: bobsmith @ 12/16/2007 11:43:49 AM
Comment: carnivore - there's PLENTY of material with which to criticize PETA without resorting to flat-out lying. Jerry Vlasak is in no way connected to PCRM, which is a 100% reputable, above-ground group with only very thin ties to PETA. Numerous IRS investigations have cleared both PETA and PCRM of any wrongdoing when it comes to supporting illegal activities.
The rest of the quotes are mostly accurate, although taken out of context. And since the subject here is vegetarian inmates, I'm not sure what PETA's positions really have to do with anything anyway. Your position would be a lot more respectable if you didn't just copy-and-paste dishonest material from the CCF-affiliated sites, which are paid for by tobacco, alcohol, and restaurant industry groups.
Posted By: bobsmith @ 12/16/2007 11:42:32 AM
Comment: carnivore - there's PLENTY of material with which to criticize PETA without resorting to flat-out lying. Jerry Vlasak is in no way connected to PCRM, which is a 100% reputable, above-ground group with only very thin ties to PETA. Numerous IRS investigations have cleared both PETA and PCRM of any wrongdoing when it comes to supporting illegal activities.
The rest of the quotes are mostly accurate, although taken out of context. And since the subject here is vegetarian inmates, I'm not sure what PETA's positions really have to do with anything anyway. Your position would be a lot more respectable if you didn't just copy-and-paste dishonest material from the CCF-affiliated sites, which are paid for by tobacco, alcohol, and restaurant industry groups.