Jul. 4—The Lewiston Tribune recently received a letter from a prisoner complaining about food portions at the Nez Perce County Jail. While not sparking a full investigation, the letter raised the question: What is the food situation for our neighbors behind bars?
Nez Perce County Jail did not respond to three requests for an interview. However, jail commanders in Latah and Clearwater counties talked about meals — with a hint of pride.
“Our food’s good,” said Latah County Jail Commander Sgt. Laureas Tate. “I had some for lunch today and I wouldn’t eat it if it wasn’t good.”
Tate, who has managed the jail for seven years, said Latah County follows the Idaho Jail Standards.
Idaho Jail Inspector Ben Wolfinger confirmed that current food service guidelines require jails to provide each prisoner a minimum of 2,500 calories per day. They also have to provide three meals, two of which must be hot. And there can be no more than 14 hours between one day’s last meal and the next day’s breakfast. And jails can’t serve the same meal twice in one week.
The Clearwater County Jail in Orofino has excellent food, said Jail Commander Lt. Rikki Spencer.
“We order all of our food through Cisco and US Foods,” said Spencer, who has managed the jail for 1 1/2 years. “We have an inmate worker make lunch and dinner and the staff does breakfast.”