At prison, mealtime, also known as chow time, is such a busy time where inmates will be in line to get their own tray with food served on it. For prisoners who cannot afford to buy their own food with a commissary account, prison food is very valuable to them, and they will just accept how much food and how it is served, whether it is delicious or not.
However, prison food is usually pre-measured and evenly distributed. However, in fact, the calorie needs of each prisoner are different; some are minimal and some are more. So, if an inmate wants extra food due to calorie intake or other factors, can they make a request for it? Okay, let’s find out the information below!
Can Inmates Get Extra Food at One Mealtime?
When it comes to whether inmates can request more food twice at one mealtime, it actually depends on where they are, since the rules of mealtimes and the availability of extra helpings of food can vary. Most prisons, especially state prisons, do not allow inmates to get extra food at one mealtime, so inmates cannot get more than what they were served. Why?
Well, kitchen prisons basically serve a number of food servings based on the inmate’s population. Allowing an inmate to get more food means the prison must be willing to let other inmates do the same. If it is unfair, riots will actually occur at mealtimes, particularly if half of the population has not eaten yet, won’t they?
When mealtime comes, inmates will go to the chow hall. They will then stand in line to get their food tray. After getting it, they can sit down and are only allowed to eat their food for no more than fifteen minutes. If done, they should leave the chow hall, and the guard will release them one by one. Of course, every inmate’s movement is really supervised.
If we examine the flow during chowtime at prison, it’s very hard for inmates to request extra food. Even though an inmate is lucky to sneak back in line and get second, they will get into trouble if the guards catch them since they will be considered to have broken the rules and are willing to receive consequences. In fact, many inmates try, but only a few succeed.
The food at prison will usually depend on the part of the country in which inmates are incarcerated, the nutritionist, and the jail budget. The inmates are generally provided with a set and regulated amount of food during mealtimes, as determined by the institution’s dietary guidance. These guidelines are designed to meet the nutritional needs of the inmates while paying attention to budget constraints and security considerations.
That’s why the prisons will not serve more food for inmates due to the specified budget. Of course, the guards will not hear that inmates would like more food. There is no doubt that some prisons damn near starve incarcerated individuals since they feed them a minimal caloric intake.
How Do Inmates Get Extra Food at Prison?
Despite the fact that inmates are not allowed to request more food at one mealtime, they can still get it. There are a few options that inmates can take if they want extra food at mealtimes, including:
1. Buying snacks using their commissary account
Using a commissary account to purchase snacks is the best alternative they can take. With the availability of foods and beverages on commissary, they can really buy what they want. However, they have to ensure the funds are available on their commissary account.
Even though the commissary food items are typically not provided as part of the regular meals, inmates can really complete their diet with them. Reportedly, many inmates who have commissary accounts prefer to buy food from commissary than from Chow Hall.
2. Requesting more food due to health factors
Not all inmates have the same health conditions; some may have specific medical conditions or dietary requirements, so they need additional food. For inmates who have medical problems, they can make a request to get extra food by following a medical check-up.
If an inmate really needs special dietary accommodation, the medical staff and prison staff may create arrangements to provide extra food. During mealtime, the inmates will get regular food plus the additional food in their tray as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
3. Requesting more food due to specific circumstances
In addition to having specific health conditions, inmates with special circumstances may be allowed to request extra food, like pregnant inmates or inmates with allergies. The prison staff will provide more food, but the accommodations will be created on a case-by-case basis.
4. Asking a friend for food
If the inmates have cellmates who eat commissary items for mealtime, it’d be easy for them to get more food. Of course, they can try to ask them to serve their food politely. It’s very common in prison.
Having a friend who works in the prison kitchen or on the serving line in the chow hall is also beneficial. Inmates can also ask them for help to give them more food, as long as the prison staff does not pay too much attention to the line and food tray. However, this success is very rare during mealtime.
Okay, those are some alternatives that inmates can take to get extra food during mealtime.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
