Jail vs. Prison 

"Jail" vs. "Prison" in English

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both refer to a place of imprisonment for people who have committed crimes of any kind, but 'jail' is usually smaller in comparison to 'prison'. 'prisons' have more facilities because those sent to prisons usually serve long-term sentences.

Differences

These two are not that different from each other. Most people assume that 'jails' are smaller, whereas, 'prisons' are for those serving long-term sentences, so they are more equipped. Look at the following examples:

Example

The police came and took Marty to the county jail.

Do you remember the cartoon in which Scooby-Doo and its friends were all in jail?

Similarities

As stated above, they both indicate a place of imprisonment for criminals. Check out the following examples:

Example

You cannot refuse to go to jail. It's an obligation.

The state prison has been put on fire.

Are They Interchangeable?

These terms have long been used interchangeably. Compare the examples below:

Example

✓ The serial killer was finally sent to prison.

✓ The serial killer was finally sent to jail.

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