They are assessing the risk factors on the type of person they will be housing. The factors that make up the decision are the type of crime the offender was convicted of, the length of the sentence, whether that person is a first-time or multiple time offender, and is there violence in their history. The decision-makers compile all of these considerations and make a recommendation on the security level of the facility they'll be assigned to.

Control review refers to the custody classification where the inmates will live and at what custody level. Each prison system has a process for determining where an inmate should be housed. Each facility within the system is operated on one or more custody levels. Inmates may be promoted to lower custody levels during routine reviews if considered appropriate. The custody levels are high or maximum, medium, low and minimum (camp).

Confinement in Response to Violation (CRV) centers house and provide intensive behavior modification programs for those who have committed technical violations of probation. CRV centers incarcerate violators for 90-day periods in response to violations of probation, parole or post-release supervision. The CRV centers utilize dormitory style housing similar to a minimum-security prison and offer intensive programming designed to modify behavior of probation violators.  Probation officers and case managers work closely with offenders as they progress through treatment and programming

The honest answer is yes, and the people who come out of the experience having underestimated it are far more common than those who found it easier than expected. Jail is designed to be a consequence, and it functions that way in ways both obvious and subtle. The most obvious element is the loss of freedom. The ability to go where you want, when you want, eat what you choose, sleep when you are tired, and make basic decisions

All inmates must go through Orientation before they are allowed to set up their privileges. Visitation, phone calls are a couple of things that have to wait - it is usually not more than a week before they allow privileges.

There are computer labs for inmates to use but they are not connected to the internet. Some inmates gain access to the internet through smuggled smart phones but they are dangerous to be caught with them. Many do acquire them and almost all get thrown in the SHU and then shipped to a higher custody facility.

InmateAid's services work with every jail, prison or detention center in the US. There are going to be varying discount amounts depending on the facility and carrier. You can always email us your information, we will give you an honest estimate prior to buying any service.

If that inmate has the password for another inmate's account they can... they are not supposed to, but what the heck, they are in prison anyway 

No - inmates cannot receive calls. Also, the guards are not supposed to pass messages to inmates. They do, but there is no way to know which will and which won't.

That would be fantastic, but it is a rare occurrence when the inmates are allowed home cooked meals brought into visitation. If they are in a minimum facility (a camp), there might be circumstances where this could be approved by the warden.