Jails and Prisons may seem like the same thing as they both have cells and hold criminals. From the outside looking in then yes, they look the same but the people they hold are very different. Jails are more of a short term housing for all types of criminals. Whereas prisons are a long term housing and more specialized for the inmates they accommodate.
Local and county level jails are short-term facilities that hold a varying array of offenders. These offenders include those awaiting trial, mental ill waiting for housing at a health facility, state and federal prisoners, and persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes. Jails also house male, female, adult, juvenile and even witnesses to crimes. (Fagan 228) Jails are meant as a temporary
Local and county level jails are short-term facilities that hold a varying array of offenders. These offenders include those awaiting trial, mental ill waiting for housing at a health facility, state and federal prisoners, and persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes. Jails also house male, female, adult, juvenile and even witnesses to crimes. (Fagan 228) Jails are meant as a temporary