jailed vs imprisoned

[Tan Elaine]

He was jailed for two months for theft.
He was imprisoned for two months theft.

Is there is difference between 'jailed' and 'imprisoned'?

Thanks.

 

[Amigos4]

He was jailed for two months for theft.
He was imprisoned for two months theft.

Is there is difference between 'jailed' and 'imprisoned'?

Thanks.

Although the terms “jail” and “prison” are sometimes used interchangeably, most members of law enforcement distinguish between the two. Primarily, the difference is that a jail is used by local jurisdictions such as counties and cities to confine people for short periods of time. A prison, or penitentiary, is administered by the state, and is used to house convicted criminals for periods of much longer duration.

An individual who is incarcerated for a two month period is most likely serving his sentence in a jail. Therefore, he would be 'jailed' for two months for theft.

An individual who is 'imprisoned' would be confined to a state or federal correctional facility.

 

[5jj]

In Britain the places in which criminals are locked away are prisons, run by Her Majesty's Prison Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. However, we frequently use the word 'jail' ( sometimes spelt 'gaol').

In normal conversation, the verb 'jail' is probably more commonly used than 'imprison'.

'Imprison' and 'prison' can also be used for non-criminal and metaphorical states:

The miners were imprisoned by the falling rocks.
His phobias made his house a prison for him; he was unable to leave for ten years.