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Prison Food and Commissary Services: A Recipe for Disaster
by David M. Reutter
Food plays an integral role in our lives. It not only provides the nutrition necessary to sustain our existence, it feeds the sense of community we all crave. Social bonds are made as we break bread with those who sit and dine with us …
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More from this issue:
- FRCP Rule 25 Allows for Extension of Time to Substitute Party Upon Death, by David Reutter
- Michigan Prisoner Publishes Book, State Sues for His Proceeds, by Edward Lyon
- Inadequate Health Services for Native American Prisoners, by Edward Lyon
- Indiana DOC Settles Prisoner’s Retaliation Suit for $80,000, by Matthew Clarke
- Temple University Marks 20 Years of Transformative Inside-Out Prison Program, by Derek Gilna
- Previous NY Escapee Fails to Negotiate Privileges in Exchange for Revealing Security Flaws, by Derek Gilna
- Federal Compassionateless Release, by Dale Chappell
- Criticism of Commission-based Phone Contract at Pennsylvania County Prison, by R. Bailey
- Massachusetts County Faces Lawsuit Over Phone Fee Kickbacks, by Monte McCoin
- Trump Calls Prison Reform “Very Important” as First Step Act Passes in the House, by Christopher Zoukis
- Federal Class-action Accuses CoreCivic of Exploiting Immigrant Detainee Labor, by Derek Gilna
- Wrongfully-convicted California Prisoner Exonerated, Receives $15 Million, by Derek Gilna
- Donald Who? Reform Goes Forward Despite His Idiocy, by Joseph Margulies
- Growing Number of Local Jurisdictions Reject Correctional Privatization, by Monte McCoin
- Louisiana Judge’s Views May Warrant Recusal in All Death Penalty Cases, by David R. Bailey
- Georgia Renewal Statute Requires Prepayment of Costs of Prior Suit
- Virginia: Former Assistant Warden Gets Suspended Sentence for Trading Privileges for Sex, by Monte McCoin
- Alaska Jail Recorded Attorney-client Conversations for Four Years, by Monte McCoin
- Canadian Non-profit Seeks Plant-based Focus, No Animal Slaughter at Prison Farms, by Derek Gilna
- Michigan Prisoners Receive Compensation for Wrongful Convictions, by Derek Gilna
- Federal Judge Dismisses Class-action Suits Over Jail Phone Rates, Commissions, by Christopher Zoukis
- Alabama Pastor and Non-profit Director Fights Capital Murder Charge, by Derek Gilna
- Former Prosecutor and Director of Tennessee DOC Sentenced to Prison, by Monte McCoin
- 15 Years to Life for Jailers Who Beat Mentally Ill Prisoner to Death, by Christopher Zoukis
- Federal Prisoner’s Custody Status Continues While “on Loan” to Face State Charges
- North Carolina Prison Guard Beaten, Stabbed; Sources Say His Past Brutality Made Him a Target, by Monte McCoin
- Prisoners Help Train Future (K9) Law Enforcement Officers, by Christopher Zoukis
- California Prison Spends $417,000 on Bottled Water as Contamination, Violations Continue, by Panagioti Tsolkas
- Tennessee Jailer Convicted of Official Misconduct, “Extreme Provocative Contact”, by Monte McCoin
- Florida: $60,000 Settlement for Juvenile Offender Raped During “Test of Heart” Ritual, by David Reutter
- Arpaio’s Infamous Tent City is Gone but Arizona State Prison’s Tent City Remains, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Towns with Private Prisons Experience Job Losses, by Matthew Clarke
- $375,000 Settlement for Ohio Woman Pepper Sprayed in Jail’s Restraint Chair, by Matthew Clarke
- The Catalyst: Thelton Henderson Transformed California’s Criminal Justice System. Now Comes the Backlash, by Abbie Vansickle
- Alabama Prisoners Suffer Nation’s Highest Homicide, Suicide Rates, by David Reutter
- Jail Prisoner Injured in Attack by Co-defendant Settles for $5,000
- Federal Court Allows Menard Prisoner’s Lawsuit for Loss of Legal Papers, Retaliation to Proceed, by Derek Gilna
- $650,000 Settlement in Oregon Jail Wrongful Death Claim
- Texas Couple Wrongly Convicted in “Satanic Panic” Receive $3.4 Million, by Matthew Clarke
- HRDC Receives $25,000 Judgment in North Carolina Jail Censorship Case, by Steve Horn
- California Prison Psychiatrist Faces Harassment, Retaliation from State Officials, by Edward Lyon
- Lawsuit Against Private Prison Firm Over Prisoner’s Death at Texarkana Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Arizona Man Falsely Arrested, Prosecuted by Iowa Officials Accepts $285,000 Settlement, by Edward Lyon
- Arkansas and Oklahoma Rehab Programs Sued for Using Court-ordered Defendants for Forced Labor, by David Reutter
- Private Prison Firms Use Revolving Door Lobbying, Generous Campaign Donations, by Steve Horn
- Colorado Prison Gang Leader Commits Suicide at Wyoming Prison, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania: Settlement Changes Jail’s Policy for Treatment of Pregnant Prisoners
- New Jersey Jail Scrutinized after Suicides; Guards Charged, Families Sue, by Edward Lyon
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- News in Brief
- Prison Food and Commissary Services: A Recipe for Disaster, by David Reutter
More from David Reutter:
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
- Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
- California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
- Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
- Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Motion Judge Abused Discretion by Denying Evidentiary Hearing on IAC Claim Where Plea Counsel’s Affidavit Was Not Inherently Inconsistent With Colloquy Statements Regarding Immigration Advice, March 1, 2026
- Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Double Jeopardy Analysis for Multiple Assault Convictions, Holding That Assaultive Acts Occurring Over Short Time Period in Same Location Without Intervening Events Constitute Single Course of Conduct, March 1, 2026
- New Jersey Supreme Court Reverses Drug Convictions Under Cumulative Error Doctrine, Holding Combined Effect of Improper References to Television Series, Gun Violence, and Search Warrants Deprived Defendant of Fair Trial, March 1, 2026
- New York Court of Appeals Announces Coercive Police Tactics Compelling Suspect to Exit Home Constitute “Constructive Entry” Violating Payton, Holds Attenuation Analysis Applies to Third-Party Consent, March 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Tainted Chicken Leads to Widespread Salmonella Outbreak at New York Jail, July 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Infections, Food, Sanitation, Negligence/Reckless Endangerment.
- Prison Profiteer The GEO Group Accused of Refusing Health Inspections at Detention Facility Despite Court Ruling, June 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Food, Water, Injunctions, Immigration Detention.
- $300,000 Class-Action Settlement at California Jail Includes Policy Changes; Agreements with Aramark and Wellpath Reached Confidentially, March 1, 2026. Food, Sanitation, Settlements, Class Certification, Monell Liability.
- Fourth Circuit Revives Deliberate Indifference Claim for Baltimore Detainee Served Rotten Food, March 1, 2026. Food, Denial of Religious Services, Immunity - Absolute and Qualified, Deliberate Indifference.
- Showers at St. Louis County Jail Riddled with Mold, Report Finds, March 1, 2026. Food, Overcrowding, Plumbing, Water, Sanitation.
- Report on Baltimore Jail Reveals Human Waste Dripped from Ceilings, Feb. 1, 2026. Totality of Conditions, Food, Plumbing, Sewage, Security Systems.
- $4,652 for Jewish Nevada Prisoner Denied Passover Meal, Jan. 1, 2026. Religious Discrimination, Food, Settlements, First Amendment, rights, Dismissal.
- Guards in Los Angeles County Now Wearing Body Cameras, Jan. 1, 2026. Totality of Conditions, Food, Water, Vermin, Security Systems.
- “We’re Broken”: As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Are Leaving in Droves for ICE, Jan. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Food, Staffing, Hygiene Supplies, Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
- Wisconsin Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Detainee’s Jail Food Lawsuit, Jan. 1, 2026. Aramark, Dental Care, Failure to Treat, Food, Cruel and Unusual Punishment.

