What It Is Like in Jail
People often throw around the terms “jail” and “prison”
interchangeably, but there actually is a difference between the two. Both
are designed as holding centers for those who are in the justice system,
but the primary difference is in the length of stays for each. Jails,
also called detention facilities, are typically operated by local law
enforcement or local governmental agencies, and they are designed to hold
inmates who are waiting for their trial or simply serving a shorter sentence.
Many new detainees are sent to jails every day, and some of them stay
one day or only for a few days until they are released for a court proceeding.
Others are released after making bail, are released to a pretrial services
caseload, are released to be placed under the supervision of a probation
agency, or are released with an agreement to appear in court.
The main categories of inmates in jail include:
- Those who have been arrested and are being held pending a plea agreement,
trial, or sentencing
- Those who have ben convicted of a misdemeanor criminal offense and are
serving a sentence of less than one year
- Those who have been sentenced to prison and are soon to be transferred
to another facility
When we talk about “short” sentences, we are referring to less serious,
misdemeanor convictions, whereas “long” sentences would be used to refer to a felony
or a crime with a punishment of longer than a year. Because those staying
in jail are there for shorter periods of time, jails are less developed.
They tend to be less comfortable than prisons in terms of accommodations
because they are not meant to facilitate long-term stays. However, many
jails offer work release programs or boot camps with the intention to
improve the lives of the individuals inside. Some even offer educational,
substance abuse, and vocational programs that the inmates can use for
educational purposes during their stay.
What It Is Like in Prison
On the other hand, prisons are usually operated by a state government or
the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Those who are in prison have usually
been convicted of more serious crimes, such as
felonies. Similar to a jail, they offer programs for the inmates, but these programs
are typically fixated with long-term goals due to the nature of the inmates’
stays. Many prisons provide comprehensive educational programs, treatment
programs, and pre-release rehabilitative programs for offenders. The focus
of the programs in prison is on cognitive behavioral interventions, pre-release
education, planning, and skill development.
Prisons tend to be more developed and designed for long-term stays than
a jail would be. The number of individuals sent to prisons every day is
far less than the number of those who are sent to jails. There are also
different levels of prisons with different comfort levels: low security
and maximum security. The standard of living is typically better in a
lower security prison because the crimes committed by the inmates are
not as serious as those in maximum security prisons.
The five levels of prison security include:
Minimum security prisons are also called Federal Prison Camps (FPCs). They
are designed to hold inmates who have been convicted of non-violent offenses
in dormitory-style housing. These prisons are usually reserved for white
collar criminals who have committed offenses like embezzlement or fraud.
Although these crimes are serious, they do not signal high risk of violence.
Furthermore, inmates who only have a few years left of their sentence
and have demonstrated excellent behavior might be sent to a minimum-security prison.
Low security federal prisons have higher inmate to staff ratios compared
to minimum security prison camps. Monitoring of mail, email, telephone
calls, and visits is also stricter. Low security prisons are also called
Federal Correctional Institutions (FCIs) and are surrounded by fences.
Similar to a minimum-security prison, low security prisons house inmates
in dormitory style housing. The difference between the inmates in these
types of prisons is that some inmates in low security prisons can have
a history of violence, but this is usually minimal. Unlike minimum security
prisons, sex offenders are permitted to be housed at low security prisons.
As a general rule, low security prisons hold those with no more than 20
years left to serve. Inmates must be determined to be a less volatile
group than those populating the medium and high security prisons.
Like low security prisons, medium security prisons are also called Federal
Correctional Institutions (FCIs). These prisons are the standard facilities
used to house most criminals. Medium security prison houses inmates who
have committed less serious crimes than those in high security prisons.
Common examples include minor assaults and thefts. While many of the inmates
in medium security prisons have committed violent crimes, the inmates
are generally less dangerous than those in maximum security prisons. Inmates
must have 30 years remaining on their sentences to be housed at a medium
security prison. The housing is cage-style and the buildings have armed
guards and a much more regimented daily routine than minimum security prisons.
High security prisons are generally reserved for prisoners who will be
serving long sentences – around 30 years or more. As the name would
suggest, the security at these prisons is very strict, with high stone
walls or strong chain fences surrounding most of them. Inmates in these
prisons usually have a significant history of violence. Because of this,
there is an abundance of guards and very little freedom at these prisons.
At any level of security, prison is never a favorable outcome. If you or
a loved one are facing potential prison time, call Derek A. Adame at {F:P:Sub:Phone} or
contact us online to find out what a persistent criminal defense lawyer can do for your case.