BJS: Bureau of Justice Statistics
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FAQ Detail
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What is the difference between jails and prisons? Jails are locally-operated short term facilities that hold both inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both, and those sentenced to a term of less than 1 year, typically misdemeanants. Prisons are longer-term facilities run by the state or the federal government typically holding felons and persons with sentences of more than one year. Definitions may vary by state. |