CANLAPAN, John Robert C.

BS CRIM 3

JAIL VS PRISON
Jails and prisons are similar in that they are institutions designed to hold people who have

been found guilty of a crime. The main difference between jails and prisons is the type of

crimes they hold. Inmates in jails are usually held until their trial date, whereas those in

prison are usually serving time for life sentences or sentences that will not allow them to

be released for a long period of time.

Another way to distinguish jails from prisons is by looking at the length of stay. A jail

sentence can range from one day to several years; however, an inmate serving a life

sentence may never be released from prison. Also, while both establishments may have

similar facilities and services, they differ greatly on security levels. A jail will have lower

security levels than a prison because it does not house violent criminals or repeat

offenders.

Jails are generally a lot less dangerous than prisons and can offer a much lower cost of

living for inmates, but they also have limitations in terms of what they can do to keep you

safe from other inmates and staff. Inmates in jails may be able to get out of the facility for

jobs or other forms of employment, but not for recreational activities or drug rehabilitation

programs. They do not have access to educational opportunities or vocational training,

because these programs are typically provided on an inmate-by-inmate basis.

Prison, on the other hand, is much more restrictive than jails. Inmates in prisons generally

cannot leave the facility at all except under certain circumstances (such as court orders).

This means that they cannot work outside of prison unless they have permission from

their parole officer. They also don't have access to rehabilitative programs such as drug

counseling or educational classes while they're incarcerated, which means that they could

fall into a cycle of relapse after release if they attempt drug rehabilitation while still behind

bars.