Hunger and Punishment: Food Security and the American Carceral System (EHUM)
PPS 1100-01, 1 hour, Wednesdays, 11:15 AM-12:05 PM
Instructor: Tasha Roberts, Director of Public Affairs, Baylor Collaborative
Hunger and Punishment: Food Security and the American Carceral System explores the intersection of hunger and the American carceral system, examining how those interacting with prisons and detention centers experience hunger and food access. Students will investigate the experiences of food insecurity among populations impacted by incarceration, the ethical implications of federal and state policy, and the broader impact of punitive policies on public health and social justice. Through a variety of speakers, readings, and case studies, the course will address key issues such as food access disparities, nutritional inequities, and the role of food security in rehabilitation and punishment. Students will critically evaluate the relationship between food justice and the carceral state, exploring how race, class, and social support structures shape the experiences of those returning from prisons and jails. By the end of the course, students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of how systemic inequities in food access contribute to broader patterns of inequality and incarceration in the United States.