Skip to main content

For Find Out Friday - What is the Difference Between Jail and Prison?


I hate people, this week especially. 

I haven’t been feeling good and that has made my already low tolerance for stupidity down to a zero. 

Which brings me to this week’s Find Out Friday; what is the difference between jail and prison?

Furthermore, what is a penitentiary?

Now before we dive in, I feel like I should already know the difference. For I have visited my share of these types of facilities. Though I am proud to say not as a guest or because I was visiting someone I am related to.

In high school I was part of their law program, where I took classes in a room that was an exact replica of an actual courtroom. This courtroom was donated to the school by former alumni and current Supreme Court Justice; Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who also happens to be a personal hero of mine.

As apart of this program we went to visit Rahway State Prison in New Jersey. Rahway was opened in 1896 and was the first institution of its kind in the garden state. It is also the only prison I have visited that is still in use. 

During my visit we heard from some of the prisoners and learned about what life is like behind bars. This included seeing some of the weapons they made with the few items they are allowed to keep in their cells. The most disturbing part of this visit, wasn’t the fact that one of the inmates got in my face. 

Nope.

It was when I learned that inmates could take college courses for free!! Here I was trying to figure out what college I was going to and how many student loans I would need to take out in order to make that possible, and murderers were getting a free education. Granted not the same as mine but still.

In case you are wondering, the reason the aforementioned inmate got in my face was because I reacted poorly to the news that he could go to school for free. Luckily he was in shackles but I still stand by my reaction. 

But back to the question at hand. 

Here are the details that define the difference between jails and prisons. 

Jails:
  • Are typically short term holding facilities;
  • Usually run by local law enforcement or local government agencies;
  • House inmates while awaiting trial; or 
  • House inmates who are serving a short sentence. 

Prisons (also known by their more formal name, Penitentiaries)
  • Where inmates would stay if they have been convicted of felonies - which is a sentence of at least a year;
  • Operated by a state or the federal government; 
  • Offer different programs based on sentences such as minimum, medium, or maximum security, or even solitary confinement. 

However, because some states like to keep you on your toes, there are some exceptions to these rules. 

For one, Pennsylvania has some county jails that are actually called prisons. In six other states (Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont) both jails and prisons are run by the state governments. 

To further complicate matters, some localities allow sentences of two years to be served in jail, where a year max is more common. 

When I review all of the criteria, I have discovered I have only visited prisons. One that is still an active facility as I mentioned above, and two that are historic sites as I will detail below. 





I have visited Eastern State Penitentiary (https://bit.ly/2IWBqPH) in Philadelphia, twice. It was in operation from 1829 to 1971. The audio tour is given by actor Steve Buscemi. On site there are many interesting places like a synagogue, barber shop, as well as the infamous former cell of Al Capone. Though its a cool attraction to visit, it is my least favorite historical prison.




Alcatraz, formerly Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, (to be discussed in a future blog I will write about San Francisco) is my one of my most favorite places on Earth. It had many uses during its lifetime, lastly as a prison (from August 11, 1934 - March 21, 1963). Then it was transformed and opened to the public after becoming a member of the National Park Service in 1972. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. 

Aside from the audio tour which is given by both former inmates and guards, it is one of the most fascinating historical attractions I have ever seen. I think that is because all of the employees lived on the island as well as their families. So there are ruins of the schools and homes they used as well as the prison. It also offers an excellent view of San Francisco. 

Now I know I am true fan of prisons, especially ones that have are closed and have gift shops.

For More Information:








Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards
Post a Comment
Read more

For Find Out Friday - How Do You Milk An Almond?

Despite my affinity for cheese and other dairy products, occasionally (actually a few times a week) I like to go dairy-free.  During those times I rely heavily on my favorite brand of almond milk, as seen in the picture above.  Though I know there is no dairy in this product, I constantly wonder: “how does one milk an almond”? Logically I am aware that no actually “milking” is taking place.  I also know that almond milk can be made at home, although I have zero interest in attempting to make it despite my love of spending time in my kitchen. So, what is the actual process?  How long does it take?  When / where / who was the first to successful develop this product? When talking about this kind of “milk” what we are really talking about is plant juices that resemble and can be used in the same ways as dairy milk. Plant like juice has been described as milk since about 1200 A.D. The first mentions can be found in a Baghdadi cookbook in the thirteenth
Post a Comment
Read more

For a Doughnut Worthy of Food Network Glory: “Dun-Well Doughnuts”

All because I wanted a Boston creme doughnut. That is how this blog truly began. It was Father’s Day weekend and although I was initially thinking of myself, I knew my father wouldn’t mind having a sweet treat for dessert. Brooklyn is synonymous with great pizza, bread, and of course bagels. But it also has many great bakeries producing some of the most delicious doughnuts you have ever tasted. Just to name a few, there is: Doughnut Plant , Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop and Dough .   On the day of my craving, I did what any of us do countless times a day - I opened Google. When I Googled “best Boston creme doughnuts in Brooklyn” Dun-Well Doughnuts appeared high on that list. Intrigued I researched it further and learned that it had won the Canadian  Food Network’s contest called “Donut Showdown” in 2013. That was enough information for me to decide to visit the very next day.  Dun-Well Doughnuts was opened by Dan Dunbar and Christopher Hollowell in December 2011. Despite
Post a Comment
Read more