What is the difference between jail and prison?

A jail is run by the county. Its where people are held pending trial, and where sentences of up to one year are carried out. A prison is run by the state or federal government. It's where people go who have been sentenced to more than a year.

Jail is for people sentenced to less than one year, or for people awaiting trial. Jails are normally run by counties and cities. Prisons are for people sentenced for more than a year. They are run by state and federal governments. Privately owned and managed jails and prisons are starting to be more common, but the inmates are there under the jurisdiction of the courts and the contracts are managed by the city, county or state.

Jail is usually run by the county, prison by the state or federal government. Jail is usually for terms 1 year and under.

when you are arrested you are taken to jail to await trial. when you are triad and sentenced to incarceration (usually for over one year or you can stay in jail) you are transferred to a state prison. jails are short term prison is long term

Ok I have worked in the all from city to county and now state A city jail r just ppl that have broken city law and most of the time they r in no more then a few days at tops 60 days County they have broken County and State laws and is going to trial and that should not be in no more then a year but most of the time that does not work out prison anyone that has to do more then a year and found guilty

Jail is for people that have less then 5 years and prison is for 5+ years but it does not go that way all the time

Jail--county or city.. small potatoes Prison--a compound built with massive gates and watchtowers to house a criminal for a long time.

Jail is local, prison is state or federal. Jail is where they keep people while they're deciding what to do with them, like before a trial or during a trial. Prison is where you go to serve a sentence (except you might serve a minor sentence for a local offense in jail, like drunk driving, something like that). I have a friend who's spent time in both. He says prisons are more comfortable and the food is better. 8^)

I agree with him