Buzz
Although people often use jail and prison as if they are the same, these terms actually represent two different kinds of facilities. Both terms relate to places of confinement, but the length of stay and the severity of the crime play a role in determining whether someone ends up in a jail or a prison.
Jail vs. Prison
A jail is a smaller, temporary facility operated by local authorities, often managed by county sheriff departments. It is meant to hold individuals who have recently been arrested for minor crimes or misdemeanors. A person may also be detained in jail for longer periods if their sentence is less than one year. As of 2007, there are approximately 3000 local jails in the United States.
A jail differs from the temporary ‘lockup’—which functions somewhat like a ‘pre-jail’—that is typically found in local police stations. Lockups hold individuals who can't afford bail, those arrested for public intoxication and held until sober, or more commonly, individuals awaiting processing into the jail system.
In contrast, a prison is generally a large facility operated by the state or federal government designed to house individuals convicted of serious crimes or felonies, with sentences lasting over 365 days. A prison is also known by other names, such as a 'penitentiary.'
To be placed in a state prison, an individual must be convicted of violating state laws. In contrast, a person must be convicted of breaking federal law to be sent to a federal prison. The amenities in a prison are typically more comprehensive than those in a jail, as prisoners are likely to spend a significantly longer time incarcerated. As of 2012, the United States had 4,575 operational prisons—the highest number in the world, with Russia following in second place.
