FAQ · United States

What types of correctional facilities are there in the United States?

In the United States the directory distinguishes these categories: Prisons and penitentiaries (1,314), Local and county jails (1,056), Juvenile detention centers (265), Women's prisons (50), Immigration detention (36), Forensic psychiatric facilities (15), Military prisons (2). Each type has its own regime, and who may visit and which procedures apply also vary.

Examples by type

Prisons and penitentiaries 1,314

Prisons and penitentiaries are establishments where people sentenced by a final judgment serve their sentence and, depending on the country, also where people await trial. They are usually organised into units or regimes with different security levels and include areas for healthcare, education, work and rehabilitation activities.

Adirondack Correctional Facility (North Elba)
Administrative United States Penitentiary, Thomson (Thomson)
Adobe Mountain School (Phoenix)
Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (Woodbridge Township)

Local and county jails 1,056

Local jails, county jails and pre-trial detention facilities mainly hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences, and they usually depend on local or provincial authorities. Because of their function, admissions and releases are more frequent than in a penitentiary and visiting procedures may differ.

Adams County Sheriff's Office and (Decatur)
Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail (Charlottesville)
Amherst County Adult Detention Center (Madison Heights)
Anderson County Detention Facility (Clinton)

Juvenile detention centers 265

Juvenile centers house adolescents and young people who have committed offences. Their approach is mainly educational and rehabilitative, with teams of educators, psychologists and social workers, and with specific visiting and communication rules for minors.

Alameda Juvenile Detention (San Leandro)
Alan M. Crogan Youth Treatment and Education Center (AMC YTEC) (Riverside)
Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center (Powhatan County)
Berrien County Juvenile Center (Berrien Township)

Women's prisons 50

Women's prisons, or women's units, are intended for the female prison population. They usually offer adapted services, such as specific healthcare and, in some systems, spaces for mothers with young children, depending on each country's regulations.

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women (Bedford)
California Institution for Women (Corona)
Central California Women's Facility (Chowchilla)
Chesterfield Womens Diversion Center (Chesterfield)

Immigration detention 36

Immigration detention centers hold foreign nationals administratively, not as a criminal penalty, while their immigration status or removal is being resolved. They are not equivalent to a prison: their regime, time limits and the rights of the people held depend on each country's immigration law.

Adams County Correctional Center (Natchez)
Adelanto ICE Processing Center - East (Adelanto)
Adelanto ICE Processing Center - West (Adelanto)
Alexandria Staging Facility (Alexandria)

Forensic psychiatric facilities 15

Forensic psychiatric facilities and units care for people with mental disorders who are under a court order. They combine custody and treatment, with specialised health staff, and usually apply stricter access and visiting procedures.

Augusta State Medical Prison (Grovetown)
California Medical Facility (Vacaville)
Carole S. Young Medical Facility (Texas City)
Federal Medical Center, Butner (Butner)

Military prisons 2

Military prisons are establishments for military personnel under arrest, in pre-trial custody or serving a sentence imposed by the military jurisdiction. They normally depend on the armed forces or the defence ministry and have their own access rules.

Pearl Harbor Brig (Pearl City)
Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar (San Diego)