My son is getting ready to go to prison this is his first time being in real trouble. Is prison like they show in those shows on tv. We as parents are worried about him getting hurt

This is a complex question best answered privately - the short public answer is it can be as bad as TV or a tame as a camp setting with white collar non-violent offenders. It really depends upon where he is sentenced to do his time. Other factors are the type of prison - whether its a state or federal facility, the length of the sentence, the crime and the sometimes the determining circumstances of the crime. But an inmate that keeps to himself and stays out of conflict can do his time with relative ease.