[Fyvel]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds because of the jailhouse menu.<br><br><br><br>
Broderick Lloyd Laswell says he isn't happy that he's down to 308 pounds after eight months in the Benton County jail. He has filed a federal lawsuit complaining the jail doesn't provide inmates with enough food.</div>
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<br><br><br><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=4738491" target="_blank">Full Story</a>

 

[Skylark]

I could see suing because a vegetarian inmate was obliged to eat meat or reach an unhealthfully low weight... but not for this.

 

[Fyvel]

I think it opens up some interesting questions. The article says the meals provide 3000 calories a day. A person of his size would likely lose weight on 3000 calories a day. So should the prison be obligated to provide enough food for him to maintain his current weight (or his previous, higher weight)? Or is it more responsible for them to help him lose weight - even if it is against his will? What about counseling? It's obviously very unhealthy to maintain such a high body weight. The fact that he is upset about his weight loss rather than happy about it raises some questions. (Of course, he's likely more upset about not getting to eat as much as he wants rather than the weight loss).

 

[Skylark]

Should health be a primary concern in a jail or prison? I think that's a question behind a lot of this.

 

[Fyvel]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Skylark</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Should health be a primary concern in a jail or prison? I think that's a question behind a lot of this.</div>
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I think that prisons should be responsible for the health of the inmates. Emotional, physical, mental, etc. Is the purpose of putting people in prison solely to punish them for their actions? Or is it also to help rehabilitate them so they can be functioning members of society when/if they are released?

 

[Skylark]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>fyvel</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I think that prisons should be responsible for the health of the inmates. Emotional, physical, mental, etc. Is the purpose of putting people in prison solely to punish them for their actions? Or is it also to help rehabilitate them so they can be functioning members of society when/if they are released?</div>
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Those are the questions behind my post, too. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Fyvel]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Skylark</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Those are the questions behind my post, too. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""></div>
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<br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:">

 

[Mr. Sun]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>fyvel</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I think that prisons should be responsible for the health of the inmates. Emotional, physical, mental, etc. Is the purpose of putting people in prison solely to punish them for their actions? Or is it also to help rehabilitate them so they can be functioning members of society when/if they are released?</div>
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I think the prison system is terrible right now. On the one hand, here in Canada, it is way to easy for those convicted of assault (child-sexual, spousal, any kind really) to get back out and there is no way that they've learned from the prison experience. On the other hand I think there should be more options for true rehab prisons where the inmates can get outside and work and play and live like in a normal village setting but they can't escape the village. The money from their work would go to pay for their "village". Troublemakers (the real kind) would be sent back to the normal prisons.<br><br><br><br>
Also, restorative justice has been shown to be very effective and yet it isn't being used nearly enough.<br><br><br><br>
I don't know what to make of this 300 lb guy.

 

[Nishani]

Good one dude - sue the county for not NOT keeping you in the obesity to which you've become accustomed <img alt="" src="http://ide.li/modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[Fyvel]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Mr. Sun</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I think the prison system is terrible right now. On the one hand, here in Canada, it is way to easy for those convicted of assault (child-sexual, spousal, any kind really) to get back out and there is no way that they've learned from the prison experience. On the other hand I think there should be more options for true rehab prisons where the inmates can get outside and work and play and live like in a normal village setting but they can't escape the village. The money from their work would go to pay for their "village". Troublemakers (the real kind) would be sent back to the normal prisons.<br><br><br><br>
Also, restorative justice has been shown to be very effective and yet it isn't being used nearly enough.<br><br><br><br>
I don't know what to make of this 300 lb guy.</div>
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That's always been my gripe with prisons too. Their main concern seems to be with just confining people rather than rehabilitating them. And it seems a lot of people who are in prison for fairly innocuous crimes (like being caught in possession of marijuana) are picking up bad habits in prison and then being released. I've heard of people who have gone into prison for non-violent crimes and were different, violent people when they came out. And of course, were re-incarcerated for violent crimes after the fact.

 

[synergy]

He's just cranky because he's hungry.<br><br><br><br>
Seriously though? 3000 calories is plenty. Jails should definitely feed people enough to maintain their health, not necessarily their current weight (if it's unhealthy).<br><br><br><br>
It also just might be a ploy for money/attention.

 

[GhostUser]

At this point, this has nothing to do with punishment vs rehabilitation. He has yet to go to trial.

 

[moodringer10]

hahaha...."you are making me more healthy and i dont like it!"

 

[raefactor]

I think 3000 calories is more than enough healthwise. You certainly don't *need* more than that in a day to live (unless you're extremely athletic and run a marathon a day, but I don't think this guy is or does... just a guess), and theoretically the money for his food comes out of our taxes.<br><br><br><br>
I say nay. ^_^

 

[Iria]

Someone on another forum I read brought up a point that might be valid. I can't be bothered to do the math, but apparently he lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time, which can be unhealthy. I don't know what that can do to you, but that's why he's having dizzy spells.<br><br><br><br>
I agree that it's a really stupid thing to sue over, though.

 

[Fyvel]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Iria</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Someone on another forum I read brought up a point that might be valid. I can't be bothered to do the math, but apparently he lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time, which can be unhealthy. I don't know what that can do to you, but that's why he's having dizzy spells.<br><br><br><br>
I agree that it's a really stupid thing to sue over, though.</div>
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Well if you are bothered to do the math (<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">), he's lost roughly 3 pounds per week, not an unreasonable weight loss and about what you would expect for someone of his size. People who've had gastric bypass lose weight a lot faster than that after their surgery.

 

[Dirty Martini]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Skylark</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I could see suing because a vegetarian inmate was obliged to eat meat or reach an unhealthfully low weight... but not for this.</div>
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If you think vegetarians should be provided with food the prefer but have no physiological requirement for, why not other people who have food preferences?

 

[Fyvel]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Dirty Martini</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
If you think vegetarians should be provided with food the prefer but have no physiological requirement for, why not other people who have food preferences?</div>
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What if the person avoids animal products for religious reasons?<br><br><br><br>
ETA: And there's a difference between "food preferences" (which is different from foods you're morally opposed to eating) and this case.

 

[Kiz]

Is this a serious article? Why is someone allowed to sue for this? I hope he's using his own cash and not taxpayers. "Starved to death"? On 3000 calories? Um.... ok. If anything he should be pleased he's losing weight. 300lb is his <i>current</i> weight, he started out at over 400lb. He should get extra time for frivolous lawsuits.<br><br><br><br>
"Oh my God! I'm becoming healthy! Someone make it stop!!!!"

 

[Scythe]

He's getting for free what a lot of people have to pay for, why complain?