ViceZilla’s Views

Having worked in law enforcement for a number of years, my views are pretty biased and slanted when it comes to those who break the law. I have very little to no pity for those who commit such heinous crimes as murder, rape, and pedophilia. Those are the crimes, that in my mind need to be dealt with harshly.

Imagine my surprise when I read that an inmate in the Benton County jail in Arkansas has filed a federal lawsuit complaining the jail doesn’t supply him with enough food! Broderick Lloyd Laswell has lost some weight since he entered the jail in September. In eight months he claims he has lost over 100 pounds to a present day weight of 308 pounds, down from 413!

Laswell, who along with a co-defendant fatally beat and stabbed a man, then set his home on fire, had this to say about his new dietary regimen:

“On several occasions I have started to do some exercising and my vision went blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out,” Laswell wrote in his complaint. “About an hour after each meal my stomach starts to hurt and growl. I feel hungry again.”

He also goes on to say that he undertakes little vigorous activity while in jail, and in his suit is asking that the county be ordered to serve hot meals! The meals, provided through Aramark Correctional Institution Services, average 3,000 calories a day.

Poor bastard, having to suffer on a mere 3,000 calories a day to survive! Granted, jail food is not known as a substitute for haute cuisine, but 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day is considered a typical, healthy diet in this part of the world.

Rather than go into the “hindsight being 20/20″ lecture of “maybe if he didn’t kill a man, he wouldn’t be in the predicament he is in,” he should look at it as a healthy step towards him living longer to better serve his time to pay back his debt to society.

Tags: Musings //