Halfway House v. Federal Prison

I know I am not having a real halfway house experience. This place is a community lockup/rehab. However, based on my personal experiences, I thought I would provide a breakdown of the differences...

Dress/Attire
HWH: You can have your own clothes with some restrictions; no shorts; must have no jeans on at dinner
Prison: Uniform and the greys you purchase; dress in anything for breakfast and dinner, dress in uniform all day and for lunch; you will get sick of khaki or whatever color your uniform is

Fresh Air
HWH: Only allowed outside for smoking and pre-approved furloughs (work, etc.)
Prison: Allowed out on all open moves with a pass during the day and without a pass at night; if at a camp - you do not have to wait for open moves

Passes
HWH: Put in paperwork in advance to get possible approval to go to store, library, time with family
Prison: Stand in line at half hour to get a pass to stay on compound and go to rec center, outdoor rec, the chapel, library, etc.

Visitors:
HWH: Fill out form about one week in advance to get approval; visits last 1 hour and are allowed 3 days/week.
Prison: One someone is approved they can visit any Saturday/Sunday between 8am-3pm.

Narcotic Medications
HWH: None allowed, even if prescribed
Prison: Wait in long pill line to receive prescribed narcotics

Physical Activity
HWH: Do what you can in your room/on your bed.
Prison: Get pass and go to the rec center where there's equipment to use and/or go to outdoor rec and walk the track or join an organized sport.

Reading
HWH: Allowed for one hour per day.
Prison: Anytime during your down time.

Urine Tests
HWH: As often as 1-2x per week
Prison: 1-2x/year unless you have a dirty UA

Rooms
HWH: 2-3/room in 10x20 with a door
Prison: 4/room in 7x10 with no door

Bathroom
HWH: Attached to room, shared by two rooms ~ 6 people
Prison: Community, shared by 150-300 women

Showers
HWH: Open room with 5 shower heads
Prison: Private stalls with doors

In-House Jobs
HWH: Everyone is put on a work crew doing cleaning type work
Prison: Choices of jobs throughout the institution, only orderlies are responsible for large institutional cleaning

Outside Jobs
HWH: Allowed any legal job
Prison: No jobs off the compound. Some camps have employment deals with local businesses.

Library
HWH: A selection of about 50 books published in the 1990's and earlier
Prison: Thousands of titles from classics to current; all vampire books are not allowed

Food
HWH: Follows a four week schedule; no set food service workers; institutional grade food
Prison: Follows a five week schedule; food workers with experience; institutional grade food

Travel
HWH: No shackles; can have own car/scooter or take the bus
Prison: No leaving

Sleep Wear
HWH: In any proper pj's
Prison: the provided pj's or tshirt and shorts; must sleep in bra

Healthcare
HWH: Your own doctors and your own insurance
Prison: Their doctors, free

Money
HWH: Pay cash for snacks, taxi, soda, phone use
Prison: All funds are deposited into your account by an outside entity

Rent
HWH: Pay 25% of income
Prison: Free; in rare instances you pay for your bed

Commissary
HWH: About 12 snack foods available
Prison: All hygiene, food, snacks, spices, clothing, etc.

Down Time
HWH: Only one hour/day in room allowed besides specified room times
Prison: Anytime you are not working you can be in your room (unless it's inspection)

Cleanliness
HWH: I'm thinking the bathroom hasn't had a good cleaning in years
Prison: The orderlies clean it daily.

Count/Roll Call
HWH: They come around and look for you and mark you off
Prison: Stand count 2-3x/day.

Phone
HWH: Unlimited calls in 15 minute intervals ($1/15 minutes); must sign up earlier in the day for a later time slot
Prison: 15 minute calls; wait 30 minutes between each call (about $3/15 minutes)

Email
HWH: None
Prison: Access through TruLincs

Smoking
HWH: Various times through day
Prison: None

Television
HWH: Videos/television after 9pm
Prison: Available most of the day, own a radio to hear

Ages
HWH: Avg age around 24
Prison: Avg age around 35

Diversity
HWH: 90% Caucasian
Prison: 25% Caucasian, 50% Latina, 23% African American, 2% Other

Recovery
HWH: Drugs & Alcohol Only
Prison: Drugs & Alcohol Only

Room Cleaning
HWH: 1x/week
Prison: Every day

Beds
HWH: Pancake thin mattress on a bunk bed
Prison: Usually bunk bed with mildly thicker mattress

Pillows:

HWH: paper thin: plastic cover; unsure of inside material (if there is any)

Prison: Feather pillow; Throws feathers out of seams everywhere in room; cloth striped cover

Staff
HWH: Young; Just out of college
Prison: Older, many nearing retirement; Mean

Lockers
HWH: Wait in line and ask permission to get into a 1'x2' locker; Lock and combo provided
Prison: 3'x2' locker with own lock available anytime in room

Education
HWH: Get a book and study on your own
Prison: GED and adult ed classes available

Shots/PRN
HWH: Five non-serious or one serious PRN = lose privileges for a week
Prison: Any non-serious will be punished, serious will go to SHU

Unit Relaxation/Work Space
HWH: Small sitting room or dining hall
Prison: Atrium, TV rooms, Desk in room

Appointments
HWH: Hung at window in handwriting or told
Prison: Call-Out sheet provides all appointments for the next day

Ice Water
HWH: No ice available
Prison: Ice available in the unit anytime

Case Worker
HWH: one for every 20 residents
Prison: one for every 250 inmates

Paper/Pencils
HWH: Bring your own
Prison: Provided for free

Time Spent in Institution
HWH: 1-6 months
Prison: 6 months - 50 years

Recovery Programs
HWH: Drug/alcohol program available
Prison: Drug/alcohol program available; gets you time off your sentence

Religions
HWH: 99.9% Christian
Prison: 90% Christian; 5% Muslim, 5% Other

Distance
HWH: Within hours of your home
Prison: Anywhere within 3,000 miles from home