Prison loaf should be the norm for inmates

Dan West, Las Vegas

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

According to a story in Monday’s Las Vegas Sun, Nevada prisons serve “institutional loaf” to problem inmates as a behavior modification tool. This bland but cheap and nutritionally complete foodstuff is an alternative to the usual prison fare, which includes delicacies such as chicken a la king.

The Sun also reported in an editorial Monday that the Consumer Price Index for food increased 4 percent last year and is projected to climb 5.5 percent next year.

Here’s a common-sense idea to save money for the taxpayers: Nevada should make institutional loaf and water the standard fare, three times a day, for all new prisoners until they earn some good behavior credit.

Then, as a reward for behaving like civilized human beings, they should be allowed to purchase some more palatable victuals such as cold bologna sandwiches. For extra-good behavior, we could throw the criminal a packet of mustard. Why is the Nevada prison system doing it backward?