Prison vs. Penitentiary: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Prison is a general term for a facility where people are legally held as punishment for crimes, while a penitentiary is a type of prison focusing on penance and rehabilitation.
Key Differences
A prison is a secure facility where individuals convicted of crimes are detained, whereas a penitentiary is a type of prison specifically designed for serious offenders, emphasizing rehabilitation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
In terms of operations, prisons can vary in security levels and inmate management, while penitentiaries are often high-security institutions with structured rehabilitation programs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
The term prison is used more broadly and can include various types of detention facilities, whereas a penitentiary is usually reserved for long-term incarcerations focusing on moral reform.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Prisons serve to isolate criminals from society, providing general containment, while penitentiaries aim to reform inmates, offering educational and vocational training.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
While all penitentiaries are prisons, not all prisons are penitentiaries; the latter has a specific focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Duration of Stay
Short-term to long-term incarceration
Typically long-term sentences
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Rehabilitation Focus
Varies, not always a primary focus
Strong emphasis on inmate rehabilitation
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Prison and Penitentiary Definitions
Prison
A facility for the confinement of individuals convicted of crimes.
The new prison was built to alleviate overcrowding.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Penitentiary
A place for long-term incarceration.
Life sentences were served at the federal penitentiary.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Prison
A state of being confined in such a place.
He spent a decade in prison for his crimes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Penitentiary
An institution focused on penance and reform.
The penitentiary's program aimed at moral rehabilitation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Prison
A place of captivity or confinement.
The hostages were kept in a makeshift prison.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Penitentiary
A facility emphasizing inmate rehabilitation.
The penitentiary offered various vocational training programs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Prison
A restriction or limitation resembling imprisonment.
His illness felt like a prison.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Penitentiary
A synonym for a high-security prison.
The escape from the maximum-security penitentiary shocked the nation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Prison
A place for the confinement and punishment of persons convicted of crimes, especially felonies.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
A tribunal of the Roman Curia having jurisdiction in matters relating to penance, dispensations, and papal absolutions.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
A place or condition of confinement or restriction
Felt his job had been a prison.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
A priest whose special function is the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular church or diocese.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
A place or institution where people are held against their will, especially for long-term confinement of those awaiting trial or convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.
The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
Relating to or used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
(uncountable) Confinement in prison.
Prison was a harrowing experience for him.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
Resulting in or punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary
A penitentiary offense.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.
The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
A state or federal prison for convicted felons; (broadly) a prison.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o confinement, restraint, or safe custody.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.
The tyrant Æolus, . . . With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds,And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
(obsolete) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
Specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful authority.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
To imprison; to shut up in, or as in, a prison; to confine; to restrain from liberty.
The prisoned eagle dies for rage.
His true respect will prison false desire.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
(obsolete) A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
To bind (together); to enchain.
Sir William Crispyn with the duke was ledTogether prisoned.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
(obsolete) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc.; run by a cardinal called the Grand Penitentiary who is appointed by the pope.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
A correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
(obsolete) An officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prison
An institution for reforming or punishing offenders.
The prison implemented new rehabilitation programs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Penitentiary
An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc. Its chief is a cardinal, called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor; a prison; a jail. Colloquially often shortened to pen.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
A correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Penitentiary
Used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers;
Penitentiary institutions
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the main purpose of a prison?
Prisons primarily serve to confine and punish individuals convicted of crimes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can a prison be minimum security?
Yes, prisons can range from minimum to maximum security levels.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
What distinguishes a penitentiary from other prisons?
Penitentiaries focus on rehabilitation and moral reform of serious offenders.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Are all prisons designed for long-term incarceration?
Not necessarily, prisons vary in terms of the length of stay and type of inmates.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Are penitentiaries always high security?
Typically, penitentiaries are high-security facilities for serious crimes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can juvenile offenders be sent to a regular prison?
Juvenile offenders are usually sent to juvenile detention centers, not regular prisons.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Do penitentiaries offer rehabilitation programs?
Yes, penitentiaries often have structured rehabilitation and education programs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Do prisons only house convicted criminals?
Primarily, though some may temporarily hold individuals awaiting trial.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Do prisons offer educational programs for inmates?
Some do, but the extent and quality of programs can vary widely.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Is there a difference in the treatment of inmates in prisons and penitentiaries?
Treatment can vary, with penitentiaries often focusing more on rehabilitation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can non-violent criminals be held in penitentiaries?
It's less common, as penitentiaries are typically for more serious offenses.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Do prisons play a role in reducing crime?
The effectiveness of prisons in crime reduction is a subject of debate.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
What kind of offenders are sent to a penitentiary?
Penitentiaries generally house serious or repeat offenders.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Is solitary confinement more common in prisons or penitentiaries?
It can occur in both but is often associated with high-security penitentiaries.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can people visit inmates in penitentiaries?
Yes, but the rules and conditions for visits may be strict.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Are there private prisons and penitentiaries?
Yes, there are private institutions in some countries.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Is the death penalty administered in penitentiaries?
In some jurisdictions, penitentiaries may house death row inmates.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can inmates in penitentiaries earn parole?
Yes, depending on the jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Are penitentiaries part of the federal prison system?
Penitentiaries can be part of both federal and state prison systems.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Is the term 'penitentiary' used worldwide?
The term is primarily used in North America, with variations in other regions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Hifza Nasir
Shumaila Saeed
Dua Fatima
