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Jail vs Prison

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Federal Prison Comparison Matrix
Angel Kennedy
CJS/255
March 7, 2016
Richard Gilbert

Jail vs Prison
Is there a difference between jail and prison, and if so, what factors separate the two? The belief each place is practically the same is a common misconception, however; there is one fundamental component in which governs the temporary or permanent placement of an offender. A jail’s and prison’s quality of food, facility resources, and availability of rehabilitative programs are all different, but; “the fundamental difference between jail and prison is the length of stay for inmates” (HG.org, 1995-2016)
Jail and Its Place in Corrections
The correctional mission of jails today is to use the combination of incarceration and rehabilitative methods to deter criminals from recommitting. Once officers have detained an offender, he or she is escorted to a local jail. Upon arrival, the criminal is taken into the "booking area" where he or she will undergo a process in which will determine placement: finger printing, photographing, stripping of personal property, examination, and bathing. If the criminal cannot make bond due to lack of funds or a bond was not given, the criminal will remain in custody until a trial is set, usually within the first twenty-four hours. According to BI, the average jail stay is twenty-three days, a sixty-four percent increase from fourteen days (2015). Rehabilitative programs are offered to those who have been sentenced to a year or more. The majority of jails offer programs like GED education, drug rehabilitation, religious and mental health programs. Also, inmates who have demonstrated ideal behavior are given work release opportunities, a refreshing program that includes but not limited to outside work like picking up litter, aiding with minor construction activities, lawn care, and aiding workers of his/her local landfill.
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