The criminal justice system has its own language and navigating it without a guide is disorienting for families encountering it for the first time. This section covers the terminology that appears in court documents, facility communications, and case records, from the difference between jail and prison to what terms like disposition, detainer, adjudication, and supervised release actually mean in plain language. It also covers general questions about how prisons and jails operate, what a typical day looks like inside, how different security levels function, and what the practical differences are between federal, state, county, and private facilities. The answers here are written for people who have no prior experience with the system and need clear accurate explanations without legal jargon. If you encountered a term you did not understand this is the right place to start. See also our sections on Law Questions and Legal Terms, and Sentencing Questions.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
Two or more penal sentences that are served simultaneously: the total
sentence period equals the duration of the longest sentence. Sentences that may all be served at the same time, with the longest period controlling, are concurrent sentences. Judges may sentence concurrently out of compassion, plea bargaining, or the fact that the several crimes are interrelated. When the sentences run one after the other, they are consecutive sentences.
In contrast, consecutive sentences run one after another: the total sentence period is...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
When someone gets time for a parole violation, where they serve that time depends on how the court and the parole authority structured the sentence.
In most cases, a parole violation means the person is being returned to custody to serve time tied to the original sentence. That usually places them in state prison, not county jail, because they are still under the jurisdiction of the original case.
The 160 days your husband received is the sanction for the violation. Whether he...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
There is a nurse's station inside the prison that is visited 3-4 times a week by a local physician. Your inmate will get a complete physical when entering the facility and any medical attention that is required or medicine that they will need going forward gets handled there. Inmates that feel sick may request a doctor's visit, this is referred to as a "sick call". When the doctor arrives, the inmate will be called to the appointment, diagnosed and treated...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
This is a tough situation, and it happens more often than people think. When an inmate feels targeted by certain staff, it can be frustrating because the system tends to favor the officer’s report over the inmate’s version of events.
The first and most important step is to continue using the grievance process. It may feel like it is not working, but building a consistent paper trail matters. Dates, times, names, and details should be documented as clearly as possible. Multiple...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
A defendant will be designated to a facility based on a point system and their designation score. The higher the point score, the more restrictive the facility, although Public Safety Factors can (and in almost all instances do) override the designation score. Inmates former criminal history weighs heavily on where they are designated. Obviously this is a major increase in points for those who have significant criminal history. They look at the Judgment and Commitment Order for this score. If...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
In most prisons, including facilities like Shutter Creek in Oregon, inmates do not have direct access to the internet. They cannot legally browse websites, use social media, or post ads online the way people on the outside can.
If you are seeing something posted online that appears to be from him, there are a few possible explanations.
The most common is that someone on the outside is posting on his behalf. Friends or family sometimes manage social media accounts, post ads, or...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
Most inmates do not have access to the Internet or email,
they receive letters through the US Mail. Mail call is done Monday through
Friday only. Inmates that have money on their inmate trust accounts can
purchase stamps and envelopes at the weekly commissary. If they do not have
money on their books, the prison will provide indigent inmates with all the
materials necessary to send out mail to their loved ones.
If your inmate writes to you directly, using your address, the cost of the
mailing...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
When an inmate is transferred from a county jail to a state prison (DOC), their personal property like wallets, clothing, and personal items is handled by the jail, not sent with them.
What usually happens to the property:
1. Held by the jail:
The facility may store the property until release
This is common if no arrangements are made
2. Picked up by family or friends:
Many jails allow a designated person to pick it up
The person may need:
Valid ID
Authorization from the inmate
3. Mailed out:
Some facilities will ship the property to a...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
Death Row Maximum Security Inmates The cell12 ft. by 7 ft. cell; 86 square feetAll solo cellsBed built into wall (hard surface bed)Blanket and pillowStainless steel toilet and sinkShelving across one side of bed, which could be used as a deskSmall chairPersonal items can be displayed in the cell and there are two small and very thin windowsAllowed to buy a small radio or TVMeals Inmates are fed 19 meals a week, three meals a day Monday through Friday and...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
All inmate calls are outbound from the facility. You cannot call an inmate. The calls are charged by the prison's telephone partner and there are no programs we know of where you can get the service for free. Inmates without funds can get stamps and letter-writing material for free so that they may remain in contact with loved ones - but telephone calls are going to require money.
