看守所与监狱——究竟有什么区别？：英语精读讲义

You did the crime and now you're going to do the time. 習語

你犯了罪，现在要服刑了。

You're shipping up to the big house, 用詞

你将被送到“大房子”，

to the clink,

送到“铁窗里”，

to lockup city.

送到“牢狱之城”。

But you could actually end up in two completely separate places, 短語動詞

但实际上你可能会去到两个完全不同的地方，

both with different sets of rules.

两者有着不同的规则。

Today we're asking jail versus prison, 表達脈絡

今天我们要探讨的是拘留所（jail）与监狱（prison），

what's the difference?

它们有什么区别？

First,

首先，

we'll start with the jail since if you were forced to choose, 語法

我们先从拘留所说起，因为如果非得选一个的话，

this is definitely the one you want to get sent to.

这绝对是你希望被送去的地方。

Typically,

通常，

this is what's known as the clink with prison being known as the big house. 短語搭配

拘留所被称为“铁窗”（clink），而监狱被称为“大房子”（big house）。

Jails are normally much smaller facilities that hold a smaller number of inmates than prisons,

拘留所通常是规模较小的设施，关押的犯人数量少于监狱，

which can have populations of several thousand.

而监狱可能关押几千人。

They're typically run by local governments.

它们通常由地方政府管理。

Think city versus the state 表達脈絡

想象一下城市与州级别的区别，

and supervised by a county sheriff's department. 文化背景

并由县警察局监督。

Their population is mostly made up of people who have been recently arrested for minor offenses or a misdemeanor, 短語動詞

这里关押的大多是最近因轻微犯罪或轻罪被捕的人，

and their sentences are far shorter than in prison,

他们的刑期比在监狱里短得多，

typically less than a year.

通常不到一年。

Yet jails are themselves different from the temporary lockups,

然而拘留所本身也不同于临时看守所，

which are typically located inside police departments

临时看守所通常设在警察局内，

and hold individuals who can't post bail. 文化背景

关押的是无法交保释金的人。

Those arrested for public drunkenness

因公共场合醉酒被捕的人，

or individuals waiting to be processed into a jail.

或是等待处理后转移到拘留所的人。

Jails can also serve to hold prisoners awaiting trial 文化背景

拘留所也可用来关押候审的嫌疑人，

or to hold a prisoner during a very long and extended trial.

或者在非常漫长的审理期间关押犯人。

While they typically only hold individuals guilty of misdemeanors,

虽然它们通常只关押犯有轻罪的人，

if the sentence is for several misdemeanors are not served concurrently, 用詞

但如果是多项轻罪且刑期不合并执行的话，

then an individual could be held for far longer than the typical period of less than a year.

那么一个人被关押的时间可能会远远超过不到一年的常规时期。

However, jails often offer work release programs, 文化背景

然而，拘留所通常提供外出工作项目、

boot camps, educational programs,

训练营、教育项目、

substance abuse support groups,

药物滥用互助组，

and vocational training programs.

以及职业培训项目。

Prisons, however, are a vastly different world than jails.

然而，监狱与拘留所完全是另一个世界。

And this is where the most hardened criminals are sent to. 用詞

这是关押最顽固的罪犯的地方。

You'll find no misdemeanors here,

在这里你找不到犯轻罪的人，

and instead prisons hold men who have been convicted of felonies. 短語搭配

取而代之的是，监狱关押的是被判重罪的男犯人。

If you're wondering the difference between felonies and misdemeanors, 文化背景

如果你想知道重罪和轻罪的区别，

misdemeanors include offenses such as petty theft,

轻罪包括小偷小摸、

prostitution, simple assault,

卖淫、简单的轻伤害、

trespassing, vandalism, and reckless driving.

非法侵入、破坏公物以及鲁莽驾驶。

Felonies, on the other hand, 表達脈絡

另一方面，重罪，

include crimes such as assault with a deadly weapon,

则包括使用致命武器袭击、

grand theft, rape, and murder.

重大盗窃、强奸和谋杀。

If you had to pick which of the two populations to spend a year or more with, 語法

如果必须选择与这两群人中的哪一群共度一年或更长时间，

we're pretty sure you'd want to go with the misdemeanor crowd. 短語動詞

我们确信你会选择轻罪人群。

While jails are run by local governments,

拘留所由地方政府管理，

prisons are run by the state or even the federal government,

而监狱则由州政府甚至联邦政府管理，

who has its own prison system apart from that of the state government-run prisons.

联邦政府拥有独立于州政府管理系统之外的监狱系统。

The difference between the two types of prisons is pretty obvious.

这两种类型监狱的区别非常明显。

State prisons hold individuals who break state laws, 文化背景

州级监狱关押违反州法律的人，

and federal prisons hold individuals guilty of breaking federal laws.

而联邦监狱关押触犯联邦法律的人。

The difference between the two offenses can be a bit murky, though, 習語

不过，这两种罪行之间的区别有时会有些模糊，

and federal prisoners can range from individuals who rob banks because banks are insured by the federal government

联邦囚犯可以包括因为银行由联邦政府投保而抢劫银行的人，

to people accused of political crimes.

以及被控政治犯罪的人。

And many white-collar criminals. 用詞

还有许多白领罪犯。

For these reasons,

出于这些原因，

state prisons are often much more dangerous than federal prisons,

州级监狱通常比联邦监狱危险得多，

as they hold many more violent offenders.

因为里面关押着更多暴力罪犯。

If you plan on breaking the law, 語氣意圖

如果你打算违法，

then make sure it's a federal law and not a state law

请确保违反的是联邦法律而不是州法律，

for a much safer prison experience.

这样你的监狱体验会安全得多。

Both federal and state prisons range from minimum security to maximum security, though, 文化背景

然而，联邦和州级监狱都分为从最低戒备到最高戒备的级别，

and the degree of the offense determines where you'll end up.

犯罪严重程度决定了你会进哪里。

Many white-collar crimes, such as tax evasion,

许多白领犯罪，比如逃税，

can net you a stay in a federal minimum security prison. 用詞

会让你在联邦低戒备监狱服刑。

Here,

在这里，

you'll enjoy many amenities, including team sports,

你可以享受许多设施，包括团队运动、

and a dining facility,

以及餐厅，

with few guards and typically just a single fence.

守卫很少，通常只有一道栅栏。

Minimum security prisons tend to resemble adult camps more than actual prisons, 語法

低戒备监狱往往比真正的监狱更像成人夏令营，

and some even have internet access for their prisoners.

有些甚至还能让囚犯上网。

Visits with family are common,

与家人探视很常见，

and violence is exceptionally rare.

暴力事件异常罕见。

You'll also be able to enjoy a dorm instead of a cell,

你还能住集体宿舍而不是牢房，

and overall your stay will resemble something more like a college dorm than an actual prison.

总体来说，你的居住体验更像大学宿舍，而不是真正的监狱。

Offenders here typically have nonviolent convictions and clean prior criminal records,

这里的犯人通常都是非暴力定罪且没有前科的人，

though some can be prisoners who have been transferred from higher security prisons,

不过有些人可能是因为表现良好，

thanks to exemplary behavior. 短語搭配

从更高戒备级别的监狱转移过来的。

Medium-security prisons are what you probably think of when you think of prison.

中等戒备监狱才是你想象中的监狱。

And though the inmates do enjoy some degree of independence,

尽管囚犯确实享有一定程度的独立性，

their movements are all very tightly controlled.

但他们的行动受到非常严格的控制。

You can forget things such as team sports or internet access, 習語

你可以忘了团队运动或上网这些事了，

though some prisons may offer use of library computers as incentives to well-behaved individuals.

不过有些监狱可能会提供图书馆电脑供表现良好的个人使用，作为奖励。

Medium-security prisons also don't have cells,

中等戒备监狱也没有单间牢房，

and instead have spanning dormitories that house dozens of inmates together.

取而代之的是宽敞的宿舍，几十个囚犯住在一起。

Orange is the New Black is a good example of a medium-security prison facility. 文化背景

《女子监狱》（Orange is the New Black）就是中等戒备监狱设施的一个好例子。

Maximum-security prison or supermaxes is where the worst of the worst go. 習語

最高戒备监狱或超级戒备监狱（supermaxes）是关押罪大恶极者的地方。

Yet,

然而，

this is where the least of all prisoners in the US serve their time.

这里是在美国服刑囚犯最少的地方。

These places are inhabited by inmates with very violent offenses or those who have caused trouble in lower security prisons,

住在这些地方的是犯下极其暴力罪行的囚犯，或是在低戒备监狱里惹是生非的人，

earning them a trip to a much more restrictive life.

这让他们“赢得”了限制更严的生活。

Inmates who have tried to escape or successfully escaped and then been caught

试图越狱或越狱成功后被抓回的囚犯，

are also automatically sent to a maximum-security prison,

也会自动被送到最高戒备监狱，

so their movements can be very closely monitored.

这样他们的行动就能被密切监视。

Unsurprisingly,

不出所料，

an inmate's daily life is extremely restricted in a supermax,

在超级戒备监狱里，囚犯的日常生活受到极大的限制，

and head counts are common.

点名是家常便饭。

Prisoners typically share a small cell with another prisoner and may get some freedom to move about the cells during the daytime,

囚犯通常和另一个人共用一个狭小的牢房，白天可能有一点在牢房内走动的自由，

but must always be ready for head counts by lights out. 用詞

但在熄灯前必须随时准备接受点名。

Prisoners also enjoy cafeteria meals and time spent on recreation out in the yard, 用詞

囚犯也能在食堂吃饭，以及在院子里进行娱乐活动，

where they can do things like play basketball or lift weights.

在那里他们可以打篮球或举重。

While gang activity permeates the entire prison system and even jails,

虽然帮派活动遍及整个监狱系统甚至拘留所，

it's in maximum-security prison where it's at its peak.

但在最高戒备监狱里达到了顶峰。

And along with the restrictions imposed by the prison system,

监狱系统本身就有很多限制，

inmates live under a code of conduct further restricted by the gangs they join. 短語搭配

囚犯们的生活还会受到他们加入的帮派所制定的行为准则的进一步限制。

Not joining a gang is possible,

不加入帮派也是可以的，

but typically hazardous to your health. 語氣意圖

但通常对你的健康有害。

Inside a maximum-security prison,

在最高戒备监狱里，

you can also find solitary lockup, 文化背景

你还能看到单独关押室，

which is where the worst of the worst end up doing much of their time.

这是最恶劣的犯人度过大部分时间的地方。

Here,

在这里，

offenders who trespass while serving time in prison will get sent as a punishment.

服刑期间违规的犯人将被送来作为惩罚。

And though most days last only a few weeks,

尽管大多数情况下只关几周，

they can end up serving as much as years in solitary.

但他们最终可能会在单独关押室里待上好几年。

Offenses such as assaulting a guard will not only get you more prison time, 語法

像袭击警卫这样的行为，不仅会增加你的刑期，

but earn you several months or more in solitary,

还会让你被单独关押好几个月甚至更久，

where you'll spend your entire day cramped up in a tiny cell with 1 hour of outside recreation a day.

在那里，你一整天都要蜷缩在狭小的牢房里，每天只有1小时的户外活动时间。

During that hour,

在那一个小时里，

you'll be allowed to sit in a small fenced-in outdoor area that's typically a few paces long by a few paces wide, 語法

你可以坐在一个通常长宽只有几步距离的、有围栏的小室外区域里，

though often you may not be allowed outside as short-staffed prisons simply can't spare the manpower to get you your hour of rec. 用詞

尽管很多时候你可能根本不能出去，因为人手不足的监狱无法抽调人力来安排你这一小时的活动。

Other times,

其他时候，

guards may simply deny you your hour as a punishment measure.

警卫可能干脆不给你这一小时，作为一种惩罚措施。

Between the two,

在这两者之间，

you definitely want to serve your time in jail,

如果可能的话，你肯定更想在拘留所里服刑，

if you can,

真的，

or at least in a minimum-security prison,

或者至少是在低戒备监狱里，

where you'll enjoy many of the perks of what basically amounts to an adult camp. 短語動詞

在那里你可以享受基本相当于成人夏令营的许多待遇。

End up in a medium- or maximum-security prison,

然而，如果你进了中等戒备或最高戒备监狱，

though,

那么，

and it's not only are you going to be there a long time,

你不仅要在那里待很长时间，

but your stay is going to be much more difficult and much more uncomfortable.

而且你的生活将会艰难得多，也难受得多。

Which would you rather serve your time in? 語法

你更愿意在哪里服刑呢？

Let us know in the comments.

请在评论区告诉我们。

And as always,

像往常一样，

if you enjoyed this video,

如果你喜欢这个视频，

don't forget to like,

别忘了点赞、

share, and subscribe for more great content.

分享并订阅以获取更多精彩内容。