Jails and Prisons
So a jail is the place a person is confined whilst waiting for a sentence. A prison on the other hand is for confirmed criminals who are there to serve their time.
The living conditions of a jail can however be much worse than a prison. For example there are no regulations on providing the inmates with regular exercise and fresh air. Jails are also on a tight budget and are run by the local law enforcement whereas prisons are run by the government and occasionally by private companies.