Jails and Prisons Comparison

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Prisons and jails hold some similar characteristics but are completely different models in which they serve in the criminal justice system. Some of the types of crimes that America faces today are: violent crimes, property, white collar or organized crime, and public order crimes (Worrall, 2008). The criminal justice system sets the regulations and policies of how an offender will be held accountable for their inappropriate actions. The criminal justice system is a process that takes time and money from society. The following information will briefly discuss the main purposes for the jail and prison systems, which will focus on the length of sentencing, funding sources, and private sector ownership. Let’s begin by explaining the length of sentencing of both criminal justice systems.

The comparison of jails and prisons should begin with an explanation. Jails are locally operated correctional facilities that confine people before or after adjudication (Seiter, 2008, P.71). The primary function of prisons is to hold convicted felons, usually serving a sentence of year or more (Seiter, 2008, P. 143). After an offender has pleaded guilty of an offense, they must be sentenced by a judge (Seiter, 2008). The relative purpose of the jail system is to hold offenders, “those who have been arrested, have been detained pending trial, have been sentenced to short terms of confinement for minor crimes, are awaiting transfer to another facility, and are being held administratively for a criminal justice agency” (Seiter, 2008). The jail sentence can last for a short amount of time ranging from a few months to a year. The following sentencing options apply to the criminal justice systems: probation or parole, short term confinement, intermediate ...

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...rms, funding, and private sector issues in our community. As responsible society members, we should strive for the common goal of helping individuals re-enter society as productive citizens. We all agree that violent criminals should be incarcerated, should receive punishment in accordance with the law, and should have to pay society back for their wrongdoing. We should accept the policies that make society a safer place to live, but always maintain an eye and ear open for suggestions in our criminal justice system.

Works Cited

Herman, P.G. (2001). The American Prison System. New York: H.W. Wilson Company.

Seiter, R. P. (2008). Corrections: An Introduction. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Thompson, J.A., Mays, L. G. (1991). American Jails. Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers.

Worrall, J.L. (2008). Crime Control in America. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

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