What do Leona Helmsley a.k.a the Queen of Mean, and Martha Stewart, the Queen of Domesticity have in common? Well, after Friday's verdict of guilty the two could very well swap stories and experiences of the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT.

Following the case of Martha Stewart's rise and fall it became clear that after her sentencing in June she might spend her time in the Danbury facility. If so, she will be one of the 5 percent of the population of white-collar criminals serving time at this institution.

Approximately three years ago I had the opportunity to visit and tour the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT. This institution is a low security custody level women's facility, which opened in 1940. It houses approximately 1,100 inmates serving a variety of sentences for offenses such as robbery, white collar crimes, property offenses, firearms violations, extortion, arson and narcotics offenses. It is situated in northwest Connecticut on 348 acres.

Since Stewart's crime is classified as white collar it is likely she will be sentenced to either a minimum security prison such as a federal prison camp or a low security prison.

On the premises of Danbury, two such facilities exist.

Assignment to a prison camp is determined by the type of crime committed, whether it was violent or non-violent, the past criminal history of the individual, whether she is a first-time offender, the severity of the crime, the length of her sentence and flight risk. Prisoners are able to move around freely within the confines of the property but are not locked down. This is the most lax environment since there is no secure perimeter. The camp functions as a small city with its own dormitory, cafeteria and commissary. At any time during the day prisoners can walk off the property. However, if this occurs, the inmate is brought in front of the disciplinary hearing officer and sanctioned. Likewise, there is a possibility of being moved to the next level of security and face charges of criminal escape and additional time on her sentence.

Contrary to the minimum-security prison camp is the low security facility. Here prisoners are locked up within the complex. All movement is restricted, which means that the women are in their cells or dormitory housing, working in prison industries, taking a class, partaking in recreational activities or in the chapel. This is a rigid structure in which the prisoners are always under supervision.

Correctional officers are present in both settings to keep the women in line.

Some people may question why a federal prison and in particular Danbury? Stewart committed a federal crime. Danbury is the closest facility to where she committed the crime. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has a policy in which it tries to keep a convict within 500 miles of the person's home in order for the inmate to maintain family ties whenever possible.

What will her days consist of at the prison camp? She will be one of approximately 230 inmates and upon arrival she will be assigned to a caseworker, a case manager and a counselor; she will be issued a basic khaki uniform. Her living quarters will be an open dormitory-style housing unit. Bunk beds are the norm with little privacy. She will not receive any special treatment due to her celebrity status. Initially, there will likely be no special precautions and she will be treated the same as all the other inmates. There is a possibility, due to her celebrity notoriety she could be segregated, but this is highly unlikely. Some inmates may attack her verbally or physically, since they may resent her notoriety, wealth, and her superiority complex. The best option for her is to keep quiet and keep to herself, unless she is deemed medically unable to work. Stewart will be assigned a specific task. Options may include groundwork, maintenance, orderly or prison industries. With any luck she may be assigned to kitchen duty where over 1.2 million meals are prepared and served annually. This may not be all bad as she may enjoy a view of a lake, and lots of greenery may make her feel right at home.