Annie Comes Home: Do you know the difference between jail and prison?

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Do you know the difference between jail and prison?

Five facts you may not know about U.S. jails and prisons. Test your knowledge about mass incarceration. Take the quiz →

Pamela, do you know the difference between jail and prison?

The United States incarcerates nearly two million people, with one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. The terms "jail" and "prison" are often confused, even though they refer to two very different parts of our criminal justice system.

Jail: run by local governments (cities or counties), designed for short-term detention, and holds people awaiting trial or people who have sentences under one year. Prison: run by state or federal governments, intended for long-term incarceration, and holds people convicted of crimes and sentenced to more than a year.

While they have their differences, U.S. jails and prisons have something in common: they both keep too many people incarcerated for far too long. The harms of lengthy incarceration have a disproportionate impact on Black people and other people of color who are far more likely to be arrested, convicted, and harshly sentenced than white people.

Both jails and prisons are known for overcrowding, poor healthcare, and harsh conditions. And the impact goes way beyond the time behind bars. Even spending one day behind bars can have long lasting consequences for people's jobs, housing stability, and health.

The truth about the criminal justice system is often hidden and obscured. Knowing the facts about mass incarceration is the first step to ending it for good. Take this quiz to test your knowledge now. >>

In solidarity,
Vera Institute of Justice