According to reports, there were about 11.5 million people in prison worldwide in 2023. (Penal Reform International) Millions of people spend a certain period of their lives inside these confinements. Though it might be a result of their own mistakes, the fact remains that jail and prisons are no joke, and people do not go there to have ’a great time’ or be surrounded by very ‘hospitable’ people.
Most convicts required to spend time in any of these facilities have a hard time adjusting. The change is so significant that people who have experienced it define it as their lives turning upside-down.
It doesn’t matter if you’ll be going to jail anytime soon or not, some of you must have a few queries about the topic. If so, then this is the right place for you. Here, we will answer four common questions about the jail system and inmate services. So stay tuned to learn more.
Are Jails And Prisons The Same?
To simply answer it in a word, no. Lots of people are pretty puzzled by this and put them in the same category, but several traits distinguish them. Jails can be defined as local facilities that are under the jurisdiction of a local district, county, or city.
They are short-term holding facilities intended for individuals arrested recently or those awaiting sentencing or trial. The experts from riversidecountyjails.com would like to add that those who are supposed to serve shorter sentences (one year tops) are generally placed in the local jail. So, what about prisons?
Prisons are institutional facilities under the jurisdiction of the federal government or the state, convicts are sent there to serve longer sentences (over one year). Individuals who have violated a state law are typically sent to state prisons.
On the other hand, offenders who have broken a federal law, are usually housed in federal prisons across the United States. In a few states, both prisons and jails are privately run by a corporation (in most cases).
In these types of situations, the state practically deals with these facilities to accommodate detainees, and it generally doesn’t interfere with the way they are managed.
DO YOU KNOW? The USA impressions the most people as a share of its population. Alt Text: The countries imprisoning the most people.
Things You Are Permitted To Bring To Jail
Talking about the things that are permitted to be brought to jails, it is important to know that some jails tend to publish a list of things you can carry there. However, it’s worth mentioning that these rules may change, hence it’s always wise to contact this facility before it’s time to go there.
Even though every single one of these facilities has specific rules about this, there are certain items allowed by most of them, including:
Prescription eyeglasses.
Foam earplugs.
Medications, but only with prescriptions. These prescriptions should not be outdated and must be placed in a pharmacy-issued container showcasing your full name, date of RX, and dosage instructions.
Some cash (below $200). Most jails deposit this amount into your personal spending account, which can be utilized in the in-house commissary.
Documents containing the information of your lawyer, family members, or some other important person, who you want to contact during incarceration
Personal belongings, like jewelry, should be left at home (this includes wedding rings too) because most jails do not allow those, and you may be forced to ship them back to the house at your own expense.
Can You Obtain Things When In Jail?
The one-word answer to this is yes. This refers to both jail and prison. Just because you are incarcerated, it doesn’t take away the right to be a consumer. In fact, the situation as far as this goes has dramatically evolved, because even jails and prisons are trying to keep up with the latest technological trends.
Out there, inmates are permitted to acquire necessities, such as food, clothing, and even some items that are intended for their hobbies. Although these things are permissible, getting credit to buy items is definitely not simple, on the contrary.
Many documentaries about prisons and jails show that it can actually be very challenging to get cash into the commissary account. Back in the day, when jails weren’t that “modern”, the inmates’ family/friends visiting them would either give them money personally, or they would cash, and/or checks to a corrections department location.
However, since like every other sector, most jails have also embraced the digital world, nowadays, families can send money to prisoners via tools like Texas’ eComm Direct, which allows them to deposit a certain amount of money in the commissary account.
Besides that, they can also purchase allowed items for an inmate to later pick them up. Now, some of you might be wondering what an inmate is permitted to obtain. Just like with most things, every jail has its own set of rules when it comes to this, however, the majority of them allow prisoners to acquire the following:
Snacks, which usually include cookies, candies, and others
Soft drinks
Canned vegetables, soups, and meat
Shower shoes
Stationary and writing implements
Condiments
Batteries
Over-the-counter medications (this refers to itch creams, allergy remedies, etc.)
Soaps, shampoos, and other items that are related to personal hygiene.
FUN FACT “The Hole” is a prison where Scientology executives are sent to prison for religious discipline. There, they would stay for months or years of manual labor, humiliation, or solitary confinement.
Which Facility Is Safer, Jail Or Prison?
When comparing it to prisons, most jails have pretty solid security. This is due to the fact that most inmates who are in jail are either serving relatively short sentences or just awaiting sentencing for crimes that aren’t as severe.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the overall atmosphere is acceptable. Of course, it surely isn’t relaxing enough, however, it’s notably less intense in front of prisons. Out there, the convicts do not always need to worry about being attacked by someone, like in the case of prisons.
It is obvious that no one ever willingly wants to spend a minute in jail, let alone weeks or months, however, that’s something that a person is obligated to do when they commit a specific crime. That’s why it’s worthwhile to be informed about this subject, just so you can know what to expect if the time comes to go there.
