 The routine for prisoners was regulated by a system of bells , and enforced by punishments ; prisoners who obeyed the rules would be promoted to the second floor – whereby they would be allowed to work in the yards everyday . Male prisoners would perform hard labour – including breaking rocks , and other duties in the stone quarries , while women would sew , clean and cook . Women would also make shirts and waistcoats for male prisoners , as well as act as domestic servants for the governor and his family . Prisoners who had become trusted , those nearing the completion of their sentence , and debtors , were housed on the third floor communal cells . These top level cells were large , and held up to six prisoners at time ; and were mostly reserved to prisoners convicted of minor crimes such as drunkenness , vagrancy , prostitution or petty theft . 
