Commonly Confused Words: "jail"/"gaol" versus "prison."
Happy Monday, Fandom Grammar watchers! In this week’s Commonly Confused Words, we’ll be looking at the difference between two law- and confinement-related words that readers and writers alike often mix up: “jail” and “prison.”
Perhaps because both “jail” (which is sometimes referred to as “gaol” in British English) and “prison” are places in which criminals are confined, we often think of the two as interchangeable in terms of verbal and textual usage. However, there are a few major differences between them that writers should take into consideration when addressing criminal confinement in their stories.
The first of these major differences lies in length of confinement. Jails are designed for short-term confinement whereas prisons are designed for long-term confinement (called “imprisonment” or “incarceration”). Usually, those who are placed in jails are expected to remain therein for a matter of months (typically 12 or fewer); those who are placed in prisons (and thus called “prisoners”) are expected to remain therein for years. Thus, those who are imprisoned have been convicted of more serious crimes that merit a longer sentence while those who are simply jailed are usually convicted of less serious crimes that merit a shorter sentence. (It is worth noting that these more serious crimes are called "felonies" and less serious crimes are "misdemeanors." As such, those who are convicted of committing a felony are called "felons," and those who are convicted of committing a misdemeanor are called "misdemeanants.") Additionally, jails house individuals who are awaiting a ruling on their case, including those who haven’t actually been convicted yet.
The second and final major difference is the operator of the place of confinement. Because jails are much smaller than prisons, a local law enforcement entity (usually a sheriff’s department) or the local government runs them. Prisons are overseen by the state in which they are located. Those that house prisoners convicted of federal offenses are overseen by the federal government
An example of “jail” using the characters from Resident Evil:
“How’d you find a key to that cell, anyways?” the rookie cop, Leon, asked as he rooted through the box on the desk in search of…whatever it was he was looking for.
“Eh. Did a little time in my day,” is how Ben answered him. When Leon cocked an eyebrow, Ben smiled and twirled the key around his finger. “Nothing big. Just a few all-nighters at the Bar Jack that turned into a few all-nighters in the drunk tank. In fact, you could say that the R.P.D. jail is my home away from home. At work, they’ve taken to calling me Ben ‘Jailbird’ Bertolucci.’”
Leon snorted. “I bet that makes your boss happy.”
“Not really.” But it will make her happy when I find out what your boss, dear old Chief Brian, is up to in that lavishly decorated office of his, Ben thought, grinning.
And an example of “prison,” also using the characters from Resident Evil:
The kid cop, Rebecca, trained her gun on Billy. “I know everything, Lieutenant Coen.”
He looked down at the gun. “Oh really? And what is it that you think you know, Officer Chambers?”
“Your file that we found in the overturned prison transport vehicle is all I need to know,” she said. “You’re a prisoner-incarcerated for the murder of 23 people-and you were picked up yesterday by two men who are now dead to be taken to a different facility for execution.” She moved the gun so that it was pointed at his heart. “There aren’t any negotiations between here and there, Lieutenant. You’re coming with me.”
He snorted. “I see. Trying to play tough cop. Bag the dangerous felon on your first assignment, and go home a hero. Well, let me tell you something, honey: life doesn’t offer any rewards for heroes. And there might not be any negotiations between here and there, but I’m taking my chances with whatever is between them,” he said, turning and walking down the train car corridor.
The easiest way to remember the difference between jails and prisons is the length of the sentences typically served therein as well as the length of the words themselves. "Jail" contains four letters while "prison" contains six letters, making "prisoner" the longer of the two words; likewise, the sentences served in prisons are usually longer while the ones served in jail are shorter.
Sources
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Merriam-Webster
Oxford Dictionaries
U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs
Perhaps because both “jail” (which is sometimes referred to as “gaol” in British English) and “prison” are places in which criminals are confined, we often think of the two as interchangeable in terms of verbal and textual usage. However, there are a few major differences between them that writers should take into consideration when addressing criminal confinement in their stories.
The first of these major differences lies in length of confinement. Jails are designed for short-term confinement whereas prisons are designed for long-term confinement (called “imprisonment” or “incarceration”). Usually, those who are placed in jails are expected to remain therein for a matter of months (typically 12 or fewer); those who are placed in prisons (and thus called “prisoners”) are expected to remain therein for years. Thus, those who are imprisoned have been convicted of more serious crimes that merit a longer sentence while those who are simply jailed are usually convicted of less serious crimes that merit a shorter sentence. (It is worth noting that these more serious crimes are called "felonies" and less serious crimes are "misdemeanors." As such, those who are convicted of committing a felony are called "felons," and those who are convicted of committing a misdemeanor are called "misdemeanants.") Additionally, jails house individuals who are awaiting a ruling on their case, including those who haven’t actually been convicted yet.
The second and final major difference is the operator of the place of confinement. Because jails are much smaller than prisons, a local law enforcement entity (usually a sheriff’s department) or the local government runs them. Prisons are overseen by the state in which they are located. Those that house prisoners convicted of federal offenses are overseen by the federal government
An example of “jail” using the characters from Resident Evil:
“How’d you find a key to that cell, anyways?” the rookie cop, Leon, asked as he rooted through the box on the desk in search of…whatever it was he was looking for.
“Eh. Did a little time in my day,” is how Ben answered him. When Leon cocked an eyebrow, Ben smiled and twirled the key around his finger. “Nothing big. Just a few all-nighters at the Bar Jack that turned into a few all-nighters in the drunk tank. In fact, you could say that the R.P.D. jail is my home away from home. At work, they’ve taken to calling me Ben ‘Jailbird’ Bertolucci.’”
Leon snorted. “I bet that makes your boss happy.”
“Not really.” But it will make her happy when I find out what your boss, dear old Chief Brian, is up to in that lavishly decorated office of his, Ben thought, grinning.
And an example of “prison,” also using the characters from Resident Evil:
The kid cop, Rebecca, trained her gun on Billy. “I know everything, Lieutenant Coen.”
He looked down at the gun. “Oh really? And what is it that you think you know, Officer Chambers?”
“Your file that we found in the overturned prison transport vehicle is all I need to know,” she said. “You’re a prisoner-incarcerated for the murder of 23 people-and you were picked up yesterday by two men who are now dead to be taken to a different facility for execution.” She moved the gun so that it was pointed at his heart. “There aren’t any negotiations between here and there, Lieutenant. You’re coming with me.”
He snorted. “I see. Trying to play tough cop. Bag the dangerous felon on your first assignment, and go home a hero. Well, let me tell you something, honey: life doesn’t offer any rewards for heroes. And there might not be any negotiations between here and there, but I’m taking my chances with whatever is between them,” he said, turning and walking down the train car corridor.
The easiest way to remember the difference between jails and prisons is the length of the sentences typically served therein as well as the length of the words themselves. "Jail" contains four letters while "prison" contains six letters, making "prisoner" the longer of the two words; likewise, the sentences served in prisons are usually longer while the ones served in jail are shorter.
Sources
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Merriam-Webster
Oxford Dictionaries
U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs