Jails are different from prisons. They are local facilities run by sheriffs and police chiefs. They primarily hold suspects before their trials and usually do count time served if the person is convicted.

Jails hold about 663,000 people every day in the United States.

The average jail stay is about 32 days.

Women make up 14% of the jail population, which is higher than in prisons.

Some jails have work-release programs, allowing suspects to keep jobs and earn money.

Many jails have moved to video calling for both legal hearings and visitation.

Inmates can typically buy items from the commissary, which supplies things like candy as well as vital necessities that jails, strangely, do not provide.

Private vendors usually provide phone services, which is another way inmates and their families can be charged extra fees.

Many jails offer GED programs and twelve-step programs despite the typically short stays.

One in five jails report being over capacity.

Most people that stay in jail is because they cannot afford bail or bond. Bail bond companies often take 10% of the borrowed cash.

Some large cities have used boats to handle overcrowded jails.

Governments typically bill inmates after release for their stay.