jail v. prison

Jail is a place used by local jurisdictions for the short-term confinement of small numbers of people who are awaiting trial, being held on bail, or have been convicted of minor crimes and are serving brief sentences (typically less than a year).

A prison is a state or federal correctional facility that houses large numbers of convicted criminals serving long-term sentences. The degree of security in a prison is usually tighter than that in a jail. While jails provide minimal amenities, such as food and bathrooms, prisons will often include cafeterias, exercise areas, classrooms, and libraries.

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