What is the Difference Between Incarceration and Imprisonment?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The terms "incarceration" and "imprisonment" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Incarceration: This refers to the act of incarcerating or the state of being imprisoned. It entails confining a person, convicted of committing a crime, to a jail, prison, or any other institution as stipulated by a court of law. Incarceration is always lawful.
- Imprisonment: This refers to the act of restraining the personal liberty of a person. In law, the act of imprisoning someone can be either lawful or unlawful. Imprisonment includes a variety of reasons for confinement, not just conviction or guilt of a crime.
In summary, while both terms involve the confinement of individuals, incarceration specifically refers to the lawful confinement of a person convicted of a crime, whereas imprisonment can refer to either lawful or unlawful restraint of a person's liberty.
Comparative Table: Incarceration vs Imprisonment
The difference between incarceration and imprisonment can be summarized as follows:
Term | Definition | Duration | Type of Facility |
---|---|---|---|
Incarceration | The act of putting someone in prison or jail, often referred to as "being locked up" | Varied | Prisons, jails, or other correctional facilities |
Imprisonment | A specific legal term referring to the act of being placed in prison or jail as a punishment for committing a crime | Often longer than 1 year | Prisons, both publicly and privately owned |
Incarceration is a broader term that refers to the act of placing someone in a prison or jail, while imprisonment is a specific legal term that refers to being placed in prison or jail as a punishment for committing a crime. Imprisonment is typically associated with longer sentences, often lasting more than a year. In contrast, incarceration can be of varying durations and can take place in prisons, jails, or other correctional facilities.
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