Arpaio Refuses To Get Rid Of Vegetarian Jail Menu

By Dennis Lambert
Published: Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 2:05pm
Updated: Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 3:07pm
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(Photo by Julie Levin-KJZZ)
Maricopa County Jail welcome sign.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is refusing to budge from his vegetarian menu in the jails, despite a reported hunger strike by nine maximum-security inmates. The sheriff who believes other inmates may join the movement said there is nothing to complain about since the no-meat diet gives inmates a healthy 2,600 calories a day.

“When we have veterans, homeless people on the streets, begging or starving, they haven’t even committed a crime. Now we got people that commit crimes, in jail, complaining about the menu," said Arpaio.

Arpaio said the hunger strike began earlier this week. He calls the diet healthy and said if the inmates do not like it they should stop breaking the law.