[Vocabulary] difference between 'prison' and 'jail' ?

[Barabara]

I'm learning English on A2-level.
I don't understand the difference between prison and jail.
Is "to escape from prison" the same as "to escape from jail"?
Thanks for your help.
Barabara

 

[Gillnetter]

I'm learning English on A2-level.
I don't understand the difference between prison and jail.
Is "to escape from prison" the same as "to escape from jail"?
Thanks for your help.
Barabara

In the US a jail is usually used to hold prisoners for a short time, perhaps up to a year. Towns, cities, and counties have jails. A prison will hold a person for many years. The federal and various states manage prisons, though some prisons are managed by sub-contractors who bid for the work.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forums, Barabara.:-D

See also the Similar Threads below.

Is there a similar difference between Zuchthaus and Gefängnis?


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[Matthew Wai]

How about "correctional centre"?

 

[bhaisahab]

How about "correctional centre"?

What about it?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is "correctional centre" a prison or a jail or neither?
In the English-Chinese dictionaries, they translate the same.

 

[SoothingDave]

More than likely a prison.

We don't have "state prisons" here anymore. We have "state correctional institutions."

It makes it sound more important or fancy, but it doesn't change what it really is.

 

[Barabara]

What about British English. Is it the same difference?

 

[bhaisahab]

What about British English. Is it the same difference?

No, we have prisons.

 

[Rover_KE]

In BE I'd say most of us use prison/jail/gaol (pronounced 'jail') pretty much interchangeably or we specify the name of the prison, such as Strangeways, Belmarsh and Pentonville.

In the UK there are four categories of security for adult prisons. Click here to read more.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Do you have labour camps? My dictionary says they are a type of prison.
The OP's "thanked" superseded mine.

 

[bhaisahab]

Do you have labour camps? My dictionary says they are a type of prison.

Not in the UK. But, given the political situation at the present time, who knows what might happen.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Do you mean they might exist covertly?

 

[bhaisahab]

Do you mean they might exist covertly?

Not at present, no.