Jails across the country are taking a new approach to keeping their inmates happy and well fed, offering them a variety of new food choices from a “Pizza and Hot Wing Party Pack” to meatball subs and nachos.
The Wall Street Journal uncovered the initiative started by food service company Aramark Corp.
Aramark started supplying the jails with the food options in 2006 and their services have grown in popularity since then.
Inmates or their relatives can order food online through the company’s website. The WSJ reports that prices range from $7 to $12 for a hot meal and $20 to $100 for a junk-food box filled with beef jerky, iced cookies, vanilla cappuccino or other goodies.
The Indiana State Prison says it’s on track to make more than $2 million from the food program while Bexar County Jail in San Antonio, Texas says its revenue could reach $500,000.
At the Sebastian County Jail in Arkansas inmate Juan Kennedy tells the Wall Street Journal that he knows the special food is a privilege.
He says his sister’s spent close to $1,000 ordering him junk food including his prized “Meaty Big n Beefy box” with spicy sausage and cheese.
“Sometimes it feels like it’s not even jail. Jail’s supposed to be water and bread.”
