A county jail is a detention center for prisoners accused of crimes within a county’s jurisdiction. Inmates are held awaiting trial or after receiving a short sentence. The facilities are often overcrowded and offer basic amenities. Minors and adults attend school and participate in activities. Rehabilitation programs are offered.
A county penitentiary, also known as a county jail, is a detention center where law enforcement officers hold prisoners accused of crimes within the jurisdiction of a county. These correctional facilities differ from state or federal prisons in that an inmate is usually held there awaiting trial or after receiving a sentence that is not accompanied by a long sentence. Though housed separately, women, men and minors accused of breaking the law are equally subject to detention in a county correctional facility.
A state with multiple counties often has multiple county correctional facilities. Immediately after an arrest, a detainee may be held in a temporary prison or detention center. Laws may vary in different jurisdictions, but prisoners who must remain in custody pending release, bail, or a court trial are typically transported to a county correctional facility.
While many of the inmates housed in a county correctional facility are there for a short time while legal authorities determine what happens next, some are sentenced to serve time in a county facility after a conviction. Those sentenced to longer sentences, life sentences, or death row inmates are sentenced to serve their sentences in a state or federal penitentiary. Female and male inmates are also assigned to different facilities.
The interior of a county correctional facility is intentionally bare with only the basics, such as a toilet, bed, and sink, available within the inmates’ personal areas. Housing is not meant to be comfortable for inmates, and depending on the county, facilities can often be overcrowded. Inmates are given uniforms upon entering a county jail and these uniforms are worn at all times while in custody to easily distinguish inmates from correctional staff members.
In addition to adults held in a county correctional facility, minors found in violation of the law are also held in those facilities. During their stay, minors are required to attend school within the structure, as well as participate in other organized activities. Unless special circumstances exist, minors and adults incarcerated in a county correctional institution are permitted a limited number of visitors during designated visiting days and times.
During a stay in a county correctional facility, attempts are made to rehabilitate inmates by requiring strict discipline and codes of conduct at all times. Specialty programs are also offered, such as literacy programs, therapy group sessions, and skills training. Participation in such programs may be voluntary or may be ordered by a judge whenever deemed necessary.
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