What is the difference between jail and prison?
Most often, the word “jail” is used for the city or county cells where people who have been arrested or charged with a crime are held until they are either released or sentenced to prison. “Prison” is most often used to mean a state (or federal) facility where people who have been convicted of crimes are sent to serve their sentences. In practice, keeping people in jail is very expensive—prison more so. Therefore, when prisons are over-crowded, inmates may serve their time in jails. Also, people convicted of misdemeanors (which have sentences of six months are less) serve their time in jails. Generally speaking, prisons are institutions run by the federal or state government. Jails, on the other hand, are institutions run by cities or counties. Note: With limited exceptions, only inmates who are convicted of violating federal laws are sent to federal prisons. Most inmates who are convicted of violating state or local laws are sent to state prisons or city or county jails.
