There are 4 different categories, A-D. Category A-C are high security and D is an open prison. My friend went to a category B prison, high security, full of serious criminals - murderers, rapists, etc, before they were moved to an open prison.
All the things you say prisoners get - rubbish. Food is served at set times, you can't wander to the fridge if you fancy a sandwich, or if you don't fancy the meal make something better. Shelter yes, you get a small room where you can be watched at all times and you share with a cell mate who could be in for anything. Exercise is an hour or half an hour walking around in circles in a square cage three times a day, or a short allocated time spent in a gym. Entertainment? Small tv in the room with terrestrial channels that you share with someone you don't know who might not want to watch it. You have to go to the toilet in front of your cell mate, and they do the same. You live in constant threat of other prisoners, particularly lifers who have nothing to lose and so are prepared to seriously harm other prisoners should you not comply with their wishes. If someone is in for a crime against children or rape, lifers often deliberately try to dish out their own 'justice' and make it their mission to kill them. There is a huge hierarchy between prisoners and they fight to get there. You live in fear of being hurt, raped or worse.
So yes, there is the basic forms of what you said, but there is no FREEDOM. Please don't underestimate how much this affects a person. You can't decide you want to go out for a walk or get some fresh air, you can't decide to eat when you're hungry or sleep in silence if your cell mate wants the TV on, you cant decide to have a bath rather than shower in a huge open shower with everyone else, you can't decide to have some time on your own or go out and get drunk or have sex with your partner, you have no options - your choices are gone.
Prison scares the absolute crap out of me, I can't imagine a worse way to live.
