The terms jail, prison, and house arrest are often grouped together. However, for Floridians facing incarceration, said words hold different definitions.
Notable Discrepancies Between Jail And Prison
Some people might think the institutions in question share the same meaning. Both terms do refer to a form of incarceration. However, they also have some discernible differences including:
Sentence Duration
Typically, jail terms are short sentences. In many instances, such periods last up to one year or less. Prison sentences are usually longer. Depending upon the crime, an imprisoned subject could spend many years, possibly even the remainder of their life behind said institution’s bars.
Crime Severity
Criminal offenses are often divided into two distinct categories, misdemeanors and felonies.
Misdemeanors are considered less serious actions. Therefore, individuals convicted of such crimes usually serve their sentence inside jails. Felonies are classified as more significant incidents of malfeasance and typically land those ruled to have committed such endeavors inside a prison’s walls.
Overseeing Authorities
Jails are often local or County facilities. Therefore, said entities are often overseen by municipal or county authorities like police and county sheriff departments. Prisons are run by state and federal authorities such as state corrections departments and federal law enforcement agencies.
Inmate Management
Jails and prisons differ regarding the ways in which prisoners and managed.
Because prisons house inmates for longer periods, representatives of said facilities place significant emphasis on structuring the schedules and lives of the incarcerated persons. Focus will often be placed on offering the imprisoned educational opportunities, various rehabilitation programs, in addition to undertakings designed to improve their physical and mental health.
As jails hold prisoners for shorter stretches, those running said holding facilities typically only prioritize meeting the inmate’s basic needs. That said, certain establishments may offer incarcerated subjects perks, like drug rehabilitation, educational opportunities, and work release programs.
Similarities
Both institutions hold certain similarities. These likenesses primarily pertain to the inmate’s rights.
In each location, convicts are entitled to visits from family or other notable associations. Moreover, said individuals are to be treated appropriately, not subjected to any type of abuse or inhumane treatment, be afforded access to medical care, interaction with the court system when applicable, and not be victimized by racial injustice.
House Arrest
In Florida, the term house arrest is also termed community controlled supervision. The specific terms of when, if, and where the subject in question can go depends on the terms of their agreement. Generally speaking, this is a form of probation employed in lieu of jailing.
Roy J. Kahn, with years of legal experience in a wide variety of criminal law, heads a “boutique” firm, which means that your attorney is Roy J. Kahn, not a paralegal. If you have been charged or are about to be charged with a crime—or if you have been contacted to be a witness in a federal grand jury case, you need a qualified defense. You should consult with an attorney immediately and know that you have a right to make no statement until you have consulted with an attorney To contact Mr. Kahn, he can be reached at 305-358-7400.
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