Sheriff Lambastes Inmates’ Request for Mexican Food

The jail inmates claim that they are a fundamental right, a “way of life,” akin to kosher food.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department claims that they are potential weapons.

Chili peppers in the hoosegow: delicious or dangerous?

More than 300 inmates in the Orange County jail have signed petitions demanding spicy Mexican-style comestibles.

But the Sheriff’s Department is just saying no to the hot stuff.

“What you’ve got to think of anytime you put something on those tables is that it’s a potential weapon,” Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Olson said. “We run security in the jails; how would you like to have one of those things (chili peppers) stuck in your eye?”

Inasmuch as many California prisons and jails serve kosher and vegetarian meals, the Latino inmates’ petition said, Orange County should provide food the inmates say is part of their heritage.

And 35% of the main jail’s 1,400 prisoners are Latino.

Last week, the Sheriff’s Department rejected the idea after the county counsel’s office ruled that the sheriff was not legally required to provide salsa.

At present, the department provides special meals only for medical reasons, not religious ones.

Robert Gore, spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, said state prisons serve salsa and peppers with some meals. He said he has never heard that they were considered a security risk and he knows of no chili pepper-related assaults.

Jack Pederson, a field representative for the state Board of Corrections, agreed, adding that many county jails serve salsa and chili peppers; state guidelines even recommend such condiments to improve the food’s taste.

Thomas F. Maniscalco, a former lawyer in jail awaiting trial in a triple-murder case, prepared and submitted the petition. He said inmates plan to appeal the salsa rejection, seeking the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, or trying for a court order.

Prisoners now get one Mexican-style dinner a month: a plate of tamales with Spanish rice. But Maniscalco said the rice is made with bell peppers and tomato sauce, not chili peppers and salsa.

If Mexican meals are not acceptable, the petition suggests, the inmates should at least be provided with salsa and Tabasco.

Monday’s jail lunch was mashed potatoes and sliced turkey on bread with gravy.