Jail

Fun Facts About Jails and Prisons

• Jail and prison are not the same thing. A jail holds people short-term, usually as a pre-trial detention, while a prison holds people long-term after they've been convicted of serious crimes.
• Time served in jail often counts toward a final prison sentence, reducing the total time an individual must serve after being transferred to a prison once convicted.
• Prisons are classified by security level (minimum, low, medium, high, supermax) based on inmate custody needs.
• The term "penitentiary" comes from the Latin word meaning repentance. The concept dates back to the Pennsylvania Quakers' 1750s–1790s reform efforts which aimed to replace corporal punishments with a system designed to encourage reflection, remorse and repentance.
• Prison education programs span from basic literacy and GED preparation to vocational training and college degrees. They are designed to enhance employability and reduce recidivism.
• Visits in prison are strictly regulated to ensure safety and security. This includes passing through metal detectors and obeying comprehensive rules covering scheduling, visitor attire, and conduct.
• Some prisons operate real industries. For instance, New York inmates make license plates and furniture, while Oregon inmates produce clothing, including military uniforms, helmets and body armor.
• Prisoners in the U.S. have a constitutional right to access legal materials. This is often fulfilled by prisons having physical law libraries, although many today are transitioning to digital materials.