Some more info about prisons and jails
Glossary
BOP- Bureau of Prisons
FCI - Federal Correctional Institution
FDC - Federal Detention Facility
USP - United State Penitentiary
The bureau of prison is federal.
Local county jails/city jails are not under the BOP supervision. Their mail rules will be different.
The DC Gulag has different rules. They can receive cards there.
The term jail is usually reserved for state/county/city facilities.
The term prison is usually reserved for federal facilities
ChatGPT below gives a good summary.
Prison and jail are both facilities used for the incarceration of individuals, but they have key differences:
1. Purpose and Duration:
- Jail: Jails are typically operated by local authorities (e.g., county or city) and are used to detain individuals who are awaiting trial, serving short sentences (usually less than a year), or being held for other reasons, such as immigration violations. Jails are generally meant for temporary confinement.
- Prison: Prisons are state or federally operated facilities designed for the incarceration of individuals convicted of more serious crimes. Prison sentences are typically longer, often extending for several years or more.
2. Jurisdiction:
- Jail: Jails fall under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement agencies and serve the immediate area they are located in.
- Prison: Prisons are administered by state or federal governments and house inmates from a wider geographical area. They often have higher security levels.
3. Inmate Population:
- Jail: Inmates in jails can include individuals awaiting trial, those convicted of minor offenses, and individuals serving short sentences.
- Prison: Prisons house individuals who have been convicted of more serious crimes and sentenced to longer terms.
4. Security Levels:
- Jail: Jails typically have a range of security levels, from minimum security to maximum security, depending on the facility and the nature of the inmates' charges.
- Prison: Prisons often have various security levels, including minimum, medium, and maximum security, to accommodate different types of offenders.
5. Length of Stay:
- Jail: The length of stay in a jail can vary widely, from a few hours for processing to several months for pre-trial detention or short sentences.
- Prison: Inmates in prison serve longer sentences, usually measured in years.
In summary, the primary differences between prison and jail relate to their purposes, jurisdictions, inmate populations, and the duration of confinement. Jails are generally for shorter-term detention and serve local areas, while prisons are for longer-term incarceration and fall under state or federal control.