ext_5401 ([identity profile] mscongeniality.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] panik 2008-10-26 04:00 pm (UTC)

Re: Thanks so much!

Jails are usually run by a local municipality, such as a county or city. [livejournal.com profile] indusnm laid out what types of prisoners they're used for pretty well.

Prisons, on the other hand, are generally run by the state's or federal government. They are for those who have been convicted of crimes and will be serving significant sentences. There are varying levels of security (e.g. Minimum, Maximum).

The vast majority of crimes are tried under State laws, hence the differences in procedure mentioned above. Federal crimes tend to be those types of things that interfere with trade or commerce, that are perpetrated across state lines, or that occur on Federal lands or territories.

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