New Year, Same Old Prison Garbage

 

Recently, the Michigan Department of Corrections announced to its prisoners that we might be getting some price reductions on commissary items. You'd think that would be a cause for celebration among us prisoners, but it's only generated a bunch of eye rolls and skepticism.  Over the last two or three years, commissary item prices have risen dramatically, especially on popular food items. Tuna prices jumped more than 100% due to "shortages." It only keeps going up, making us wonder if "shortages" were really the problem.  Peanut butter also rose sharply due to problems in the peanut supply chain. That was more than two years ago, but the price has only continued to climb. It never dropped after supplies stabilized.  Coffee, which is instant, dry, generic brand coffee, more than doubled in the last two years. Mayonnaise more than doubled, too. Even though egg prices have dropped again, our mayo cost has remained very high. Even Ramen noodles jumped almost 80% in cost over the last couple of years.  One problem with prison commissary prices in Michigan is that up til now, 15% of the cost of commissary items goes to the Prisoner Benefit Fund (PBF). The PBF pays for things like cable television, weight equipment, sports equipment, Christmas "goody" bags, and other "prisoner benefits." With the drastically increased pricing, the PBF has become flush with cash over the last couple of years.  PBF funds are spent with warden and prisoner representative approval, but some prison wardens refuse to approve many expenses. Consequently, the PBF fund grows. (Incidentally, there is little to no oversight or independent review of how these funds are managed by the MDOC. Many prisoners believe the funds are often misused, though we can offer no proof without an independent audit.) Commissary prices continue to rise, and prisoner wages have not risen in more than three decades. Perhaps that is why the MDOC has decided to reduce the percentage of commissary prices that go to the PBF. Instead of 15%, it will now be...14%. That means that a $6.96 bag of freeze dried coffee, that a year ago cost $3.68, should now drop to $6.89. Wow. Big savings.  I, personally, do not believe the reduction is enough. Perhaps the MDOC plans future reductions if necessary. I hope so. But commissary prices will continue to inflate dramatically because there is no competition. The single company that manages our commissary can charge whatever it wants, and we have to deal with it, like it or not.  There are certainly many far more important things happening in the world that the legislature has to concern itself with, but sadly, that's always the case. In the mean time, prisoners and their families pay a heavy cost of unregulated, noncompetitive commissary prices for basic necessities and food replacements due to inadequate prison food.