What is the difference between prison and jail?

jail you just go for a few days maybe a week tops prison is years months but let me tell you this prison is better than jail especially the one in alaska i think somewere cold and snowy lol

For me the difference between prison and jail is: when you say in jail it means you are behind bars,like criminals in jail they are put behind bars, but we call it they are in prison.Yes its true that they are in prison, because the word prison for me it means you are in a certain situation where you are limited to do what you want to do,so prison is more complicated for me because not only behind bars or in jail that we can say that we are in prison, because some people are in prison but not behind bars or in jail because they are being prison by some other things like their emotions, job,situation in life,even vices and guilt. And i believe that there are some people who are being prison by their own self, than those who are behind bars in jail.

I think that prison is for long term lock-ups, and that jail is for temporary custody (like while they're waiting to be sentenced.) They put drunk drivers in jail, but your long-term cases like murder, etc, go to prison. Not positive about this part, but it seems that prisons are state run institutions, while jail is runned by a county (or city).

Jail is generally a building in town where they hold ppl who have been arrested until they go to court and it is usually county funded. Prison is a building where ppl go after they have been to trial and sentenced. It is state run and state funded. My Hubby worked for the State Prison for 17 years and they generally have numerous ones scattered across the state. [b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~ **AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG**[/b]

The most notable difference is that prison inmates have been tried and convicted of crimes while those in jail may be awaiting trial. A prison is under the jurisdiction of either federal or state, while the jail holds people accused under federal, state, county and/or city laws. Jails are correctional facilities run by counties-usually inmates serve up to one year there. Prisons are run by the state or federal government. Anyone serving sentences of a year and a day or more, go to prison. keep posting.. take care and have fun..

jail you can only do a year in anything more than that like if the judge says 366 days that i a year and 1 day so that means you go to prison.