A federal judge has ruled that the Idaho Department of Correction must provide Kosher meals to Jewish prisoners in any of their facilities.
The lawsuit came about after prisoners went on a starvation diet at Passover this year. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho helped the four prisoners file suit after two of the plaintiffs ate only fruit and matzo over Passover because the state would not provide kosher meals. 
The plaintiffs contend the prisoners’ options were to not eat or to violate the basic tenents of their religion. The ACLU says the court now has instituted an agreement that there will be what’s called a Common Fare diet to be implemented no later than November 1st of this year. The kosher menu will feature 19 different entrees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The court will monitor the implementation of the new kosher program which requires pre-packaged, sealed servings to prevent contamination.
The order does not resolve the lawsuit, which now turns to what compensation the prisoners should get after eating non-kosher food for years while in prison. (KBSX/Boise State Public Radio)
