A person in jail can be referred to by several terms, depending on the context and jurisdiction.
Here are some common terms…
- Inmate –Â This is a general term used to describe someone who is confined in a jail or prison.
- Prisoner – This term is often used interchangeably with inmate, though it can sometimes specifically refer to individuals in a state or federal prison, as opposed to a local jail.
- Detainee – This term typically refers to someone who is being held in custody, often while awaiting trial or immigration proceedings.
- Convict –Â This term refers to someone who has been found guilty of a crime and is serving a sentence in prison.
- Offender –Â This term is used broadly to describe someone who has committed a crime, and it can apply to individuals both in and out of jail or prison.
- Arrestee –Â This term is used to describe someone who has been arrested and is in custody, but not necessarily yet convicted.
- Remand Prisoner – Â This term is used in some jurisdictions to refer to someone who has been remanded into custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.
- Pretrial Detainee –Â This refers specifically to someone who is being held in jail while awaiting trial, not yet convicted of a crime.
Each of these terms can be used in specific contexts to describe individuals in different stages of the criminal justice process.