What is the difference between jail and prison?

[u/Spicy_Wimp]

I watch a lot of true crime stuff on YouTube and the one I've just watched said that this person had an easier time in jail than in prison. So what is the difference.

[u/OhThrowed]

Jail is shorter term, holding until trial or while being processed. Prison is where you serve out a sentence. Longer term and such.

I'm not a lawyer or cop, so I'm probably off on details, but think of jail as before trial and prison as after trial.

[u/uses_for_mooses → u/OhThrowed]

You got it. Jail is typically for (1) pre-trial detainees (defendants who are arrested and held before they go to trial, and during trial, assuming bail is not an option) and (2) those convicted but with sentences of less than 1 year.

Prison is typically for those who have been convicted and who have sentences of 1 year or more.

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/uses_for_mooses]

and who have sentences of 1 year or more.

And a felony is any crime that can be punished with more than a year’s imprisonment.

[u/Safe-Ad-5017]

Jails are smaller local facilities that don’t hold people for a while. Police stations have jails in them.

Prisons are big facilities dedicated to holding people for long periods of time

[u/scaredofmyownshadow → u/Safe-Ad-5017]

Well, that’s the intention, but if the person waives their right to a speedy trial and is not offered or cannot afford bail, it can take years of pre-trial motions and legal actions before the actual trial even begins. Bryan Kohberger was in jail for more than 2.5 years before his trial date and was only transferred to prison a few weeks ago after pleading guilty instead of taking it to trial. Some people have spent more than a decade in jail awaiting trial.

[u/Downtown_Physics8853]

Jail= 1 yr or less each charge

Prison > 1 year

[u/JoeyAaron]

There's a wide, wide variety within both jails and prisons, so it's hard to tell why one specific person on Youtube had an easier time in jail vs. prison.

In general, the biggest difference between jails and prisons is the churn of people. Inmates are constantly moving in and out of jails, or between housing units within the jails. There's more consistency in prison, and consequently the inmates tend to treat their housing unit more like a home. Another difference often involves supervision. Jails generally do not have staff posted full time in the housing unit with the inmates, and most supervision is done remotely. In prisons there is usually staff posted full time on the housing unit, and supervision is done directly. Also, there tends to be more programs and recreational opportunities in prison compared to jail.

[u/Spicy_Wimp → u/JoeyAaron]

I dont want to say which case they were talking about as I dont want to unintentionally upset people but it was a very high profile case.

In the UK jail is another word for prison

[u/JoeyAaron → u/Spicy_Wimp]

I've worked in both. In general, most inmates would prefer prison to jail.

However, there are a million examples where this might not be the case. For instance, a child sex offender who's a maximum security inmate, in a state without a "PC yard" for maximum security prison inmates. In jail he'd be thrown in the PC Housing Unit. He's have the normal jail experience, just on a unit with inmates who'd face danger for various reasons in the normal population. Once he went to a maximum security prison, he'd have to refuse housing and go to segregation. Probably something like 23 hours per day in your cell and the "yard" is just a small fenced in area where you can get some sunlight. Showers 3 times per week. No TVs.

[u/Spicy_Wimp → u/JoeyAaron]

That makes sense, this person is doing life without parole but not sure if theyre in segregation or not.

[u/Background_Ad_4253]

More likely to be Jesus's bitch in prison. According to HBO originals.

[u/GoodbyeForeverDavid → u/Background_Ad_4253]

This is the technical definition

[u/Cfwydirk]

AI

In Minnesota, the longest possible county jail sentence is 364 days, and it is reserved for gross misdemeanor convictions. The fundamental difference between a county jail and a state prison is the severity of the crime: felons are sent to prison, while those convicted of lesser crimes typically go to jail.

Maximum county jail sentence in Minnesota

According to Minnesota state law, here are the maximum sentences for less serious crimes that result in county jail time: Gross misdemeanor: Up to 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.

Misdemeanor: Up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Why some people go to jail and not prison

The distinction between county jail and state prison is directly tied to the severity of the crime and the resulting sentence.

Felony convictions go to state prison. A felony is a more serious crime that carries a potential sentence of more than one year, with some offenses carrying life sentences.

Gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors go to county jail. Jails are designed for shorter stays and house individuals who have been convicted of less serious crimes. Jails also house people awaiting trial or serving probationary jail sentences, even for felony-level charges.

Jails and prisons are run by different authorities. Jails are operated and administered at the county level, while state prisons are managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

In Minnesota, the potential sentence length is the deciding factor. Under state law, a felony is defined as a crime for which a sentence of one year or more may be imposed. The maximum jail sentence for a gross misdemeanor is specifically set at 364 days to avoid crossing the threshold into a felony and a state prison commitment.