Prisons Raise Money with Sales of Goodies Like ‘Pizza and Wings Party Pack’
Indiana’s prison system raised more than $2 million last year through sales of special junk food meals, while the county prison in San Antonio, Texas, hopes to take in $500,000 in the same pursuit.
The goodies sold include meatball subs, cheeseburgers and a “Pizza and Wings Party Pack,” the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports. The food is sold through a website run by food-service company Aramark Corp.
Prices range from $7 for a hot meal to $100 for a box filled with junk food, the story says. The service is available only at prisons where Aramark has the food service contract; the food is prepared on-site.
Supporters say revenues from the sales have saved prison programs and given prisons another perk that can be taken away from prisoners as a disciplinary measure, according to the newspaper. Detractors say the service can result in jealousies, poor diets and prisoner coddling.
One of the critics is Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., who disciplines inmates by serving them “nutra-loaf” made of dry milk, vegetables and bread dough. He thinks prison shouldn’t be cushy.
“Instead of calling it a jail, let’s call it the Hilton,” he told the Wall Street Journal.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
