Dietaries for Different Classes of Prisoner

From 1843 onward, the government expected a minimum standard of food to be given to prisoners in all establishments throughout the country.

CLASS 1

1st.- Convicted Prisoners not sentenced to hard labour, whose period of confinement does not exceed. fourteen days

2nd.- Prisoners in close confinement for Prison offences for the same period.

BREAKFAST,..10 ounces of Bread
DINNER,..11 ounces ditto
SUPPER,..11 ounces ditto

CLASS 2

1st.- Convicted Prisoners sentenced to hard labour for any term not exceeding fourteen days.

2nd.- Convicted Prisoners not sentenced to hard labour, whose period of confinement exceeds fourteen days, but does not exceed twenty-one days.

3rd.- Prisoners in close confinement for Prison offences, for periods exceeding fourteen days, and not exceeding twenty-one days.

BREAKFAST,..8 ounces of Bread, 1 pint of Gruel
DINNER, ..8 ounces of Bread.
SUPPER,..8 ounces of Bread, 1 pint of Gruel

CLASS 3

1st.- Convicted Prisoners not sentenced to hard labour, whose period of confinement exceeds twenty-one days.

2nd.- Convicted Prisoners sentenced to hard labour but disqualified for it by natural infirmity.

3rd.- Convicted Prisoners sentenced to hard labour, whose period of confinement exceeds fourteen days, and does not exceed six weeks.

4th.- Prisoners in close confinement for periods exceeding twenty-one days.

5th.- Prisoners committed for trial or for further examination.

BREAKFAST,..8 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel
DINNER,..Four days in the week, 8 ounces of bread, 1 pound of potatoes, or 2 ounces of cheese, if potatoes fail. Two days, 8 ounces of bread and 3 ounces of cooked meat, without bone. One day, 8 ounces of bread and 1 pint of soup.
SUPPER,..8 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel

CLASS 4

Convicted Prisoners sentenced to hard labour, whose period of confinement exceeds six weeks, and does not exceed three calendar months.

BREAKFAST,..8 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel
DINNER..Three days in the week, 8 ounces of bread, 1 pound of potatoes, or 2 ounces of cheese, if potatoes fail. Two days, 8 ounces of bread and 3 ounces of cooked meat, without bone, and half a pound of potatoes. Two days, 8 ounces of bread and 1 pint of soup.
SUPPER,..8 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel

CLASS 5

Convicted Prisoners sentenced to hard labour, whose period of confinement exceeds three calendar months.

BREAKFAST,..10 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel
DINNER,..Two days in the week, 11 ounces of bread, 1 and a half pound of potatoes, or 3 ounces of cheese, when potatoes fail. Three days, 11 ounces of bread, 4 ounces of cooked meat, without bone, and half a pound of potatoes. Two days, 11 ounces of bread, 1 pint of soup, 1 pound of potatoes.
SUPPER,..11 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel

FEMALES AND JUVENILES

BREAKFAST,..8 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel
DINNER,..Two days in the week, 8 ounces of bread, and 1 pound of potatoes, or 2 ounces of cheese when potatoes fail. On other days, 8 ounces of bread, and other Dietary the same as Adult Males.
SUPPER,..8 ounces of bread, 1 pint of gruel.

CLASS 6

Prisoners in solitary confinement for Prison offences.

One pound of bread per day.