Published: March 03, 2007 12:20 am            

Warden fights back after inmates throw food

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Jefferson County’s jail warden got a little tired of inmates throwing food despite repeated warnings not to, so he fought back.

Warden David Riley recently started feeding misbehaving inmates a food loaf, made up of all the offerings at mealtime mixed together and formed into a loaf.

“We microwave the food loaf before it is served,” Riley said. “It’s really not that bad.”

Jails across the country commonly serve food loafs as punishment for bad behavior. Some jails don’t use the daily meal offerings, but instead use a recipe that includes ingredients like wheat bread, beans, other vegetables and cheeses in order to make sure the inmate’s diet meets daily nutritional guidelines.

Five days after offering the unique concoction, Riley said all food throwing stopped at his jail.

“I had one inmate tell me, ’Well warden, you broke me,”’ Riley said. “It has had the desired effect.”

        

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