Do you know the difference between prison and jail? Doing time in prison or jail, regardless of which you go to, is not a pleasant experience, especially when you haven’t been convicted of a crime.
Do your research before you end up in one, and make sure you know the difference so you can keep yourself out of either, if possible.
While both function similarly, there are some key differences between prison and jail that you need to know to protect yourself.
Here’s what you should know. Keep reading!
Level of Security
Prisons are usually more secure than jails. They are associated with harsher punishments and sentences for more important crimes.
Most prisons are better set up for long-term security because they have fences, guards, cameras, and locked rooms. They also put people in cells based on how dangerous they are or what crime they have committed. For example, some jails only hold high-security criminals.
Jails are for short-term detention or holding people while they wait for their hearing, and security is usually less strict there. Most of the time, the local sheriff’s office watches over these places. They may not have fences and use open dorms to house people.
Other ways to keep people safe could be contracted guards or limited CCTV coverage. Once a transferred prisoner gets into the building, the security level can be higher or lower, depending on the situation.
Living Accommodations
Most prisons are big buildings with many different units and places to live. The units are made so that inmates can be put in different groups based on things like their past, behavior, crime, or need for protective custody. Inmates can get food, medical care, and other basic needs at this center.
Jail is a lot less complicated. Usually, towns or cities run jails, which are smaller than prisons. Most people in county jail are there for small crimes or are waiting for their trials.
Length of Time Served
People who have committed a misdemeanor or a low-level criminal are usually held in jail for a short time before they are released on bail or sentenced. Prisons, on the other hand, are used to hold people who have been convicted of more serious crimes for longer periods of time. They are meant to be a place of punishment, not just a place to hold people temporarily.
Most people stay in jails for a few weeks or months, while most people stay in prisons for years or even decades. Some jails may also be used as prisons for convicted criminals, which is an interesting fact.
However, this is generally seen as a short-term solution and more of a stopgap measure. In general, the difference between jail and prison is the amount of time served and the level and type of crime.
Medical Services
Even though these two facilities may look the same at first glance, the medical services they offer to prisoners are very different. Most jails have basic medical services like routine care and emergency care.
People who are in prison get better medical care. Most prisons have a medical staff on site. They usually offer a wide range of services, such as mental health, physical therapy, and other specialized services.
Also, prisons house a lot of people who already have health problems, so they have to offer treatment choices for those people as well.
Visitation Access
Most of the time, going to prison is much harder than going to jail. Most prisons only let approved family and friends visit, and both the guest and the inmate have to be on a list. Usually, you can only visit one or two days a week, and only at certain times.
Most jails, on the other hand, have very open visitation rules that let family and friends come at any time during visiting hours. Jails also have much less strict rules about who can visit inmates than prisons do. Often, spiritual or legal advisers can also come to visit.
In both cases, it is wise to do an inmate search beforehand to confirm the exact location of the person you intend to visit.
Funding Sources
Funding sources for prisons and jails vary significantly, as prison costs are often borne by local, state, and the federal government while jail costs more often have to be shouldered by local communities.
Prisons and jails alike receive government funding for personnel and operational needs, but the bulk of other resources and investments for prisons come from the state and federal governments.
On the other hand, jails rely more heavily on local funds and private donations to cover costs. These sources of funding create distinct differences between prison and jail.
Management and Administration
Prisons, usually managed by the state, provide long-term sentences for individuals convicted of more serious crimes. Management and administration of prisons are typically more centralized and comprehensive than that of jails.
Jails, usually managed at the county or municipal level, are meant to hold individuals facing shorter sentences or awaiting a trial. City jail management and administration are more decentralized than that prisons, which allows for more localized prison policies and procedures.
Learning the Nuances of a Prison and Jail
The differences between prison and jail can vary by location. Prisons typically house offenders sentenced to more than a year, while jails are used to house offenders who are short-term and awaiting trial.
The local government usually manages jails, while the state manages prisons. For more information on the differences, research online and explore further!
Check out our other blog posts for more informative and educational content!
Sharon Howe is a creative person with diverse talents. She writes engaging articles for WonderWorldSpace.com, where she works as a content writer. Writing allows Sharon to inform and captivate readers. Additionally, Sharon pursues music as a hobby, which allows her to showcase her artistic abilities in another creative area.