If that confused you, you’re not alone. A lot of people don’t know the difference between jail and prison — and even fewer have heard the phrase “in jail while in prison.” Let’s break it down.
Jail vs. Prison: What’s the Difference?
Jails are located in each county and are typically used to detain individuals who are awaiting trial but cannot make bail. Jails also hold people serving short sentences — generally a year or less.
Yes, jails house others too (like probation violators or federal detainees awaiting transfer), but for the sake of simplicity, we’ll focus on the basics here.
Prisons, on the other hand, are state-operated facilities under the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). They’re vastly different from jails. While a large jail might house a few hundred people, a prison is built to hold thousands — often for years or decades.
Other Key Differences
One major distinction is the staffing and training.
In many jails, correctional officers may not be certified or may have minimal training. In contrast, Alabama’s prison correctional officers go through a rigorous 12-week academy (similar to police training), followed by on-the-job training. While there are now newer roles like “BCOs” (Basic Correctional Officers) to fill staffing shortages, I’m referring here to APOST-certified officers, who meet the state’s full law enforcement standards.
So What Does “Going to Jail in Prison” Mean?
Here’s the twist: if someone is already in prison and tells you they’ve been “sent to jail,” they’re most likely talking about administrative or disciplinary segregation — commonly known as “seg” or “the hole.”
So yes, being in jail while in prison usually means the person has been segregated from the general prison populationas a result of a disciplinary action or administrative decision.
Segregation can last anywhere from a few days to several months depending on the infraction — and while the terminology is informal, it’s widely understood among those inside.
Final Thoughts
Jail and prison are not the same. If your loved one is arrested, they’re going to jail. If they’re convicted and sentenced, they’re headed to prison. And if they say they’ve been “put in jail” while already in prison — that usually means segregation, not a transfer back to county jail.
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This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Alabama State Bar, Rules of Professional conduct, Rule 7.2 (e), requires the following language in all attorney communications: No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Hayden Glass Sizemore 