There are a number of myths that spread about jail. You probably have heard about the myths and you probably want to know whether those are myths or facts. This information needs to be straightened out so that misconceptions and misunderstandings do not occur, not like in Hollywood movies about prisons.
1. Jails and Prisons Are the Same Thing
People often use the term jails and prisons interchangeably, but actually these terms are different. Jails and prisons are not the same thing because these two facilities serve different purposes. Jails are used to incarcerate offenders who are awaiting trials, sentencing or transfer to a prison or to incarcerate offenders for misdemeanor crimes so that the offenders usually spend time there in a short period of time. Meanwhile, prisons are used to incarcerate offenders who serve their sentences for a long period of time because of serious crimes.
2. All Offenders in Jails Are Mean and Dangerous
Not all offenders in jails are mean and dangerous. It is because some of them may be innocent. Some of them may be accused of minor offenses or they probably have committed non-violent offenses. There are also some people who are in the wrong time and place that make them go to jail. So, not everyone in jail is a violent offender.
3. Entering a Jail Means Stopping Your Life
A lot of people may think that if someone gets into a jail, his or her life stops which means that the person does not need to pay their debts and any other responsibilities. This is wrong thinking. When they are in jail, they still have to do their responsibilities. If they have a debt in a bank, for example, where they have to pay it monthly, they need to continue to pay it. Being in jail does not mean that your debts stop. If you have a wife and kids and you are the one who is responsible for them which means that you are the one who provides a living for them, what will happen with them if you are in jail? So, think twice before you commit any crimes so that it does not harm yourself and others. Being useful for your family and others is better than being in jail.
4. Condition of All Jails Are the Same
Some people probably think that the condition of all jails is the same. However, the fact is that the condition of every jail can be different from one jurisdiction to another. There are jails that may provide better facilities and services than other jails. However, some other jails may have overcrowding populations, insufficient healthcare, or even safety issues.
5. Jails Are Good for Rehabilitating Offenders
As explained earlier, a jail is for incarcerating offenders for a short period of time. So, jails are not a good place for rehabilitating offenders because jails usually lack the resources and programs that are needed for long-term rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is usually done in a prison because usually a prison has a number of programs and resources for that. Rehabilitation is also usually associated with parole or probation.
6. Entering a Jail Makes Someone Hard to Get Out Until His or Her Trial
When someone enters a jail, it is hard for him or her to get out until his or her trial. Well, this is wrong. There are a lot of cases where offenders can be released from jail before their trial. It can happen on bail or through other pretrial release programs.
Those are some myths about jails. Hopefully, after reading this you do not misunderstand or misconception again about jails.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
