FAST FEEDBACK: Is Feeding Inmates Too Expensive?

Lansing, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A recent audit is very critical of the way the State of Michigan is feeding it's prisoners. In fact, it indicates the state could save $40 million dollars a year just by privatizing the food service.

     Russ Marlin from the Department of Corrections says Michigan spends $93 million dollars a year to feed 51 thousand prisoners. That equals three meals a day, and about $5 dollars per person.

    The daily diet for each prisoner is typically between 2600-2900 calories. A typical breakfast is fresh fruit or cereal, eggs and toast.  At lunch: a sandwich, vegetables and baked potato.  And for dinner: an entree, fresh fruit and vegetables, and even ice cream.

     The state can cut certain things like fresh fruits from the inmates diets to save money, but tampering with a prison's food does come with risks.  Russ Marlin with the Department of Corrections says "we have seen correctional systems that have tampered with the food and its led to assault stabbings killings.. inside the prison.. we don't want that."