Would a prison cater to a vegan diet?

This is obviously completely hypothetical as I have no intention of going to prison! I was just curious as to whether, if I did, the prison would allow me to be vegan, and provide vegan meals?



What do you think?Would a prison cater to a vegan diet?
I can't find my source, but it depends. Some prisoners claim to be veg for special treatment, but there are those who are actually veg. It depends on the prison, and if you have your lawyer really push for it, then they're more likely to take you seriously.

They will obviously cater to Jewish and Muslim prisoners, so this is just an extension of it. But they pretty much have to believe that you were veg going in.

*EDIT* Here's an article about it: http://www.vegparadise.com/news33.html
So the answer is, it depends on the prison, press coverage to get you to support, whether or not you do a hunger strike. etc. And federal prisons do allow that.
From source: In all of these stories there are two common threads. First, those sent to jail stood their ground in their unwillingness to accept anything but vegan food. Second, and perhaps most important, they were able to mobilize support from a community willing to make phone calls, write letters, send emails, and contact the media. This blitz of communications from their supporters made a difference in most instances.Would a prison cater to a vegan diet?
@Leia: The army does provide vegetarian options for MRE's. However they do not provide vegan options.



To answer your question I would think it depends on the case. If you are vegetarian for strict religious purposes, they may allow it. If you killed 20 people and raped them, they may not be so nice about it.
Only if you could provide a legitimate religious or medical reason, with documantation, for following a vegan diet.



When I worked for the county jail, we were required to observe religious-based diets (no pork for Muslims and Jews, for instance) or any with medical documentation (no wheat for those with celiac disease.) But diets chosen simply out of preference were ignored.Would a prison cater to a vegan diet?
Dunno what country you're in, but in Britain.....yes.

British military also cater for vegetarians. There's separate vegetarian ration packs.

EDIT: I've been reading the other answers and a lot of people are taking about ethics. I am wondering how ethical a person has to be to follow their diet strictly but not ethical enough not to break the law and end up in prison in the first place? Yes, I know there are miscarriages of justice, but surely they can't all be vegetarians?
They should. Regardless of whether it's "religious" or not. What's the difference between religion and overall morals? Hell, religion is just a guideline to morals, they're practically interchangeable. It would be discrimination if they didn't.

@joe lol what does that have to do with this topic at all?Would a prison cater to a vegan diet?
there was vegan guy who went to prison a few years ago

he raised his baby vegan and the baby died

and he got convicted of murder. (his wife too)

and he just got the regular prison meal

but would only eat the items that were vegan

don't know what happened to him.
if they did i would be pissed off. the military doesn't accommodate vegetarians or vegans at all. in fact, if you're in the navy on a ship you eat whatever is vertical transported to you. i.e. whatever the helicopter or supply ship brings you and that is mostly dehydrated meats. however, prisoners do get better treatment than military and most people for that matter so it wouldn't shock me.

@Hummus: are you talking about the US Army? i serve in the navy and work with the national guard and theyre always complaining...
I think it would depend on the prison, but it's very unlikely.



There have been vegans arrested and they were not given special diets. Some prisons do offer vegetarian diets, if it's in conjunction with an inmate's recognized religion.



But veganism is not a religion....no matter how faithfully you follow it.



http://www.vegparadise.com/news33.html
I imagine catering to vegetarians in prison is as simple as leaving off whatever meat there was for the day. Why should you get special treatment, it is supposed to be punsihment. Unless there is a religious reason...
If it's for religious purposes or food allergies then yes, I think so. Otherwise I think you'd be out of luck.

Leia: Actually the army is very vegetarian friendly, at least the Canadian army is.
So...meatless meals are provided to those who are vegetarian because they think a giant cloud man mandates it, but not those who are vegetarian because of personal ethics?



Do I have this right?
doubtful but....

political correctness has reared its ugly head in many places so it might well depend on the crime and what type of prison the vegan ended up at.
no. you commited a crim, no one is going to cater to you and make you feel at home, your not at home.
Yes, because it's denying basic human rights if they don't. I take it probably depends on the crime if they take those rights away, but they should.
Yes, they would. If they went to refuse, the person could push their lawyer for it.
There are cases where they have
doubt it