If you think prison life is bad, contemplate hot dogs without the buns. No! Not that.

 

House Republicans, looking for cost savings, recently asked the state Department of Correction for details on the price of inmate meals across the state prison system.

Here are the questions and the DOC’s responses, obtained by the Hearst Connecticut Media Group under the state Freedom of Information Act.

GOP: “How much does it cost for each meal to an inmate and the what is the
total cost of meals for all inmates for the year?”

DOC: “Inmates receive three meals per day. The daily cost per inmate averages $2.54 per day.  The average cost for breakfast is $.67; lunch is $.96 and dinner is $.91.”

GOP: “Are hotdog meals served on a bun or bread and what is the cost
difference between the two?”

DOC: “The agency does serve hot dogs one time per week.  Each inmate receives three hot dogs with three slices of bread. The cost is $.03 per slice of bread or $.09 per inmate per meal.  If the Department served hot dog rolls, it would cost $.09 per roll or $.27 per inmate per meal.  The approximate savings is $159,120 per year.”

GOP: “Are meals provided three times a day or two. If three how much cheaper
would the cost of Sunday meals be if they had brunch instead of
breakfast and lunch?”

DOC: “The Department has considered the concept of a Sunday brunch in the past. The amount of food needed to meet the minimum Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) set by the Dietary Guidelines to adequately supply the proper amount of nutrients would not result in significant cost savings.”