A plan moving through the Minnesota Legislature would require some Minnesota prisons to plant gardens that would help feed prisoners.
Supporters say it would save the state money and give inmates a productive outlet while they serve their time. A bill sponsored by Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, and discussed Tuesday in a House committee, would make eight of the state's prisons till up ground for agricultural use by inmates. "Hard, sweat equity work creates a strong back and a sound mind," he said. "It's especially needed for our young people, and also all ages actually, and especially people in a correctional institute."
Corrections Commissioner Tom Roy told lawmakers he thought it was a good idea. He's the former director of Arrowhead Regional Corrections, the workhouse for five northern Minnesota counties, just outside Duluth. "For years, that facility has had a pretty significant farming operation, including vegetables, hay and also raising livestock," Roy said. "They still have a slaughterhouse on grounds, and chickens and other things meet their demise in that slaughterhouse quite regularly." Roy said that some of the jail's potato and pumpkin crop even finds its way on to local food shelves.
Greengage cited programs in other states. They include an organic flower garden at California's famed San Quentin prison and a landscape horticulture program at New York's Rikers Island. Oklahoma officials said prison farms made nearly $1 million selling firewood, beef and pecans in 2009. Gruenhagen said the state's fiscal crisis is part of the reason he's pitching the idea.
What do you think about having prisoners grow food or sell things to support the prison?
I think that this is a really good idea to do. It would save the government money for one and they wouldn't have to buy veg. or anything that you can grow. & this gives the inmates something to do outside.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea in an all around way! It is something for the inmates to do outside-physical labor, saves money, and fresh healthy food.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great idea! It would save money, and you might as well get something out of the people that are in jail!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very effective and beneficial idea. I think it will be a way for the prisoners to gain some character, since they will have to understand that they will work to eat. I think that it is both cost friendly and will give the prisoners something to do that is benefiting themesleves. They also will be consuming healthy goods. Since they are the ones that are racking up fees, they should have to help to diminish them.
ReplyDeleteI think think this is a good idea! If our government can save moeny, the inmates can get out do work, and have an availability to get fresh health food.
ReplyDeletei think this is a really good idea, i mean the prisoners are in there anyways so might as well make them do stuff, instead of stand around and drink toilet liquor.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good idea, because then they can save money and it would be good for the inmates to do work and actually try to change.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, must have been a
ReplyDeletegenious to think of that. i don't think that i could have
Very good Idea. Its a good idea so than the state can spend less money on prisons. Its also a good idea because it proivdes inmates with the oppurtunity to work and really why shouldn't they do something for the expenses they rack up.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a pretty good idea. It would cut down on what the prison has to spend for food. And it would also give the prisoners something to do.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really good idea, it will save the state money and it will give the prisoners something to do so that they can be outside instead of inside all the time.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! Taxpayers are paying to house and feed the inmates so if this could cut down cost that'd be awesome! Plus why not put them to work. There probably bored and why should they just sit around?
ReplyDeleteI like it because we wouldn't have to spend so much money on the people who do wrong in our country. It is true, it would give the inmates something to do so their not always bored.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!!! It's a way to go green, it's a way for them to learn nurturing ways, and personally, i love fresh grown food. So... A+ for this idea. =]
ReplyDeleteIts actually a really smart idea, because it could lower taxes and it would make the inmates take pride in what they are doing, because they would be eating what they grow.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good idea. It would give inmates another thing to do. It would also be good because of the extra income it would bring in.
ReplyDeleteI really like this idea. It gives them something good to do.! I also think it is sweet how this would lower money jails need; it sucks when our money is going to jails because some people are dumb. All they do is sit around for the most part, so why not make them do something to benefit us all. I also feel that by them starting gardens maybe when they get out having a little garden will become a hobby and change who they are for the better. :)
ReplyDeleteProlly a decent idea actually! gives them somethin to do and fruits and veggies for the kids!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Im with Sean all the way!! Its like a win-win because the good prisoners get something to do and they can get some good food that they can take pride in and people can get some veggies and fruits which people need.
ReplyDeletei think its a good idea i mean why should they get a free ride?
ReplyDeletei dont like this idea they would make metal plants and grow them up into swords and cut those gates like cheese lol but seriously i dont like this idea becuz if they did something wrong in life why should they get to do stuff inside the prison
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty cool idea. Its good to let the inmates do something like what they would do in the real world. Plus it saves the prison systems money.
ReplyDelete