Opponents press Snyder to cancel prison contract

Decision weeks away for food service contract in prisons

7/30/2014

LANSING, Mich. — Opponents are pressing Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration to cancel the state’s contract with a company that provides food in the prison system.

The liberal advocacy group Progress Michigan says local officials on Thursday will demand cancellation of Aramark’s contract in a call with reporters. They’ll also ask local governments to investigate their own contracts with the company.

Philadelphia-based Aramark Correctional Services has come under scrutiny for maggots found in a prison’s food area and infractions such as workers having sex with inmates. Michigan Corrections Department spokesman Russ Marlan says a decision on the contract remains weeks away.

Michigan’s in the first year of a three-year contract with Aramark that’s expected to save $16 million a year. Michigan has fined Aramark $98,000 for violations.

Aramark faces similar sanitation complaints in Ohio.