Food Matters - Issues surrounding food in prison. Occasional Paper 3

Abstract

The issue of prison food has made headlines several times over the last few years in Tasmania. It is a problem not unique to this State. As demonstrated in this report the quality, quantity and social context of food preparation and consumption really does matter for prisoners - whether they reside at Risdon prison, a mainland institution or overseas.What you eat and how you eat is enormously important to all of us. In situations of enforced confinement and loss of ordinary freedoms, food becomes even more significant and the issues more pronounced (Preface - White 2006) The report sets out the findings of semi-structured interviews with six ex-inmates about the place of food in their prison experience. The research shows that despite varying backgrounds, the men shared certain common experiences, opinions and perceptions of prison food.