# Which is worse: Jail or Prison? (Need answer for family member who has to choose) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843 "2014-05-20T17:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/1 "2014-05-20T17:02:29Z")
A family member of mine has been put in jail (for now). He needs to stay in there for a year. He’s already served about six (6) months of the sentence, so only about 6 months left. He’s served those six months (so far) in the initial jail that they put him in. Now from what I know/have read/have been told…Jail is where you go immediately upon arrest and where you stay–for an indefinite time, before being moved to prison. My family member has a choice right now, though. I’m not sure if prisoners are ALWAYS given a choice, but he is. His choices are: 1. Go to PRISON (where, apparently, you go for the long term–different from jail) and get out in NOVEMBER of this year… OR… 2. Stay in JAIL, but then he’ll have to serve ANOTHER year starting in June (so, from June 2014 to June 2015). Which should he choose? **THIS IS IN ARIZONA, KEEP IN MIND: Sheriff Joe Arpaio** Now me, I’ve never been in either prison or jail, but I’ve HEARD and READ that prison is the worse of the two. I don’t exactly know the pros/cons of each, however, which is why I’m making this topic. Hopefully I can get more insight on each so that I can tell him which will be the (ultimately) better choice. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/2 "2014-05-20T17:14:33Z")
It’s going to depend on the specific institutions involved but overall, I’d say prisons are better than jails. I think it’s due to the fact that prisons are intended for long-term housing - they have to address issues that jails can often avoid on the theory that nobody will be staying long enough for something to be a serious problem. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/3 "2014-05-20T17:15:10Z")
Do you have a general location? It seems to me that prisons and jails can vary widely by region. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/4 "2014-05-20T17:16:57Z")
Both suck. Get out as soon as you can. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/5 "2014-05-20T17:18:05Z")
Well, you’d know based on your job…but what of things like gangs and more crime and things like that? I always thought prisons had less monitoring of prisoners than jails did…as jails don’t seem to have as many prisoners and they all seem to be more tightly packed. Prison, on the other hand, I’ve heard have long-time, more “elite” (in their own mind) type prisoners who aren’t afraid to commit more serious crimes where they are, along with having more gangs, clubs, danger, etc. I don’t know, I guess I just always heard/though of/saw prison as being more dangerous and less easy than jail. Family member wants to go to prison…he’s leaning towards that, and I’m afraid he’ll wind up having a harder time than in jail (where he’s already having a hard time, from what I hear). Oh, and I’m going to move this to IMHO, where it probably fits better. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/6 "2014-05-20T17:19:03Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Do you have a general location? It seems to me that prisons and jails can vary widely by region. Arizona…Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Yeahhhhhh. So, knowing that…which will be easier: Prison or jail? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/7 "2014-05-20T17:21:17Z")
Arpaio is in charge of which? Not sure that it matters, but if you bring him up, you need to mention which choice involves him. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/8 "2014-05-20T17:21:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Both suck. Get out as soon as you can. Well, yeah…that goes without saying. But he has to choose. He’s not having a very good time in jail right now (with prisoners giving him a hard time and lots of fights happening). Will he have it easier from other prisoners in prison rather than jail is the question. I continue to tell him it’s probably best to stay there, in jail. He’s already used to it, it’s not unbearable, and (I’m thinking) prison will be worse for him. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/9 "2014-05-20T17:22:23Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Arpaio is in charge of which? I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/10 "2014-05-20T17:28:42Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I have no idea. Arpaio runs the Maricopa County jail system, often notoriously. I think the combination of getting away from Psycho Joe and getting released 7 months sooner seems to suggest that prison may be the better option. If he’s already having a tough time, it doesn’t sound like an extra year in the place is going to make things any easier. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/11 "2014-05-20T17:30:49Z")
If I were serving a finite period of time, I’d rather do it in a prison than that same time in a jail. More opportunites for recreation, library, hobbies, visitation in a prison. In jails more often you just sit. Not that you don’t spend a LOT of time in a prison doing nothing and going nowhere. But not as much in most jails. I can only speak for prisons and jails in Wisconsin, however. WI prisons are pretty safe, and not run by the gangs. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/12 "2014-05-20T17:35:45Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Arizona…Sheriff Joe Arpaio. > > Yeahhhhhh. > So, knowing that…which will be easier: Prison or jail? I would definitely avoid any system run by Arpaio. The man is a terrible administrator. His jail system has been repeatedly sued over issues like living conditions and civil rights violations. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/13 "2014-05-20T17:36:34Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Arpaio runs the Maricopa County jail system, often notoriously. I think the combination of getting away from Psycho Joe and getting released 7 months sooner seems to suggest that prison may be the better option. If he’s already having a tough time, it doesn’t sound like an extra year in the place is going to make things any easier. So Arpaio is only an issue if the person is in Maricopa County. In any other county in Arizona, another sheriff would be in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/14 "2014-05-20T17:42:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So Arpaio is only an issue if the person is in Maricopa County. In any other county in Arizona, another sheriff would be in charge. Yes, but bear in mind that Maricopa County has a population of 3.9 million people. All of Arizona has 6.5 million. ---
**Author:** ![Strangeland64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@Strangeland64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strangeland64)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/15 "2014-05-20T17:47:14Z")
Prison definately. I have known someone who was in jail then prison plus a couple of people who were in jail , one for like six months, one for a few days. Jail always seemed to suck worse. Plus getting out months earlier? Serving time is serving time. I think someone made a good point above. Prisons are better equipped to handle those in the long term. Jails are tightly cramped and get by with things prisons can’t. It seems like a no brainer to me. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/16 "2014-05-20T17:48:17Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > If I were serving a finite period of time, I’d rather do it in a prison than that same time in a jail. More opportunites for recreation, library, hobbies, visitation in a prison. In jails more often you just sit. > > Not that you don’t spend a LOT of time in a prison doing nothing and going nowhere. But not as much in most jails. > > I can only speak for prisons and jails in Wisconsin, however. WI prisons are pretty safe, and not run by the gangs. That actually sounds kinda nice. Can you send me a brochure? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/17 "2014-05-20T17:51:25Z")
No personal experience but I’ve also heard that jail is worse - nothing to do, limited programs or opportunities, worse food, little-to-no medical or dental care, etc. A young man of my acquaintance was in jail (non-violent offense - multiple drunk driving charges leading to felony drunk driving) and was offered the choice to stay there, or go to a “boot camp” type facility and get out earlier. He chose boot camp and seemed to get a lot out of the experience - that was five years ago and he’s kept his nose clean ever since. He also got thousands of dollars worth of dental work done. He went [here](http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/0,4551,7-119--5043--,00.html). ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/18 "2014-05-20T18:05:48Z")
> [@Strangeland64](#): > > Prison definately. I have known someone who was in jail then prison plus a couple of people who were in jail , one for like six months, one for a few days. Jail always seemed to suck worse. > > Plus getting out months earlier? Serving time is serving time. I think someone made a good point above. Prisons are better equipped to handle those in the long term. Jails are tightly cramped and get by with things prisons can’t. > > It seems like a no brainer to me. This. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/19 "2014-05-20T18:46:23Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > That actually sounds kinda nice. Can you send me a brochure? Sure! The brochure is titled “Sexual Abuse/Assault Prevention and Intervention; An Overview for Offenders”. Where would you like it sent? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843/20 "2014-05-20T18:58:15Z")
I read an article recently that made a similar point to what others have said: jail is more transitory, whereas folks in a prison have to figure out how to live there long-term, so jail tends to be more disruptive and traumatic, everything else being equal. Do you know the specific place in Arizona? The specific jail/prison? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-worse-jail-or-prison-need-answer-for-family-member-who-has-to-choose/688843.md?page=2)