拘留所與監獄——究竟有什麼區別？：英語精讀講義

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

你犯了罪，現在要服刑了。

You're shipping up to the big house, 用詞

你將被送到「大房子」，

to the clink,

送到「鐵窗裡」，

to lockup city.

送到「牢獄之城」。

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

但實際上你可能會去到兩個完全不同的地方，

both with different sets of rules.

兩者有著不同的規則。

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

今天我們要探討的是看守所（jail）與監獄（prison），

what's the difference?

它們有什麼區別？

First,

首先，

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

我們先從看守所說起，因為如果非得選一個的話，

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

這絕對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. 片語搭配

看守所被稱為「鐵窗」（clink），而監獄被稱為「大房子」（big house）。

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

看守所通常是規模較小的設施，關押的受刑人數量少於監獄，

which can have populations of several thousand.

而監獄可能關押數千人。

They're typically run by local governments.

它們通常由地方政府管理。

Think city versus the state 表達脈絡

想像一下城市與州級別的差別，

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

並由郡警察局監督。

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

這裡關押的大多是最近因輕微犯罪或輕罪被捕的人，

and their sentences are far shorter than in prison,

他們的刑期比在監獄裡短得多，

typically less than a year.

通常不到一年。

Yet jails are themselves different from the temporary lockups,

然而看守所本身也不同於臨時拘留所，

which are typically located inside police departments

臨時拘留所通常設在警察局內，

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

關押的是無法交保的人。

Those arrested for public drunkenness

因公共場合醉酒被捕的人，

or individuals waiting to be processed into a jail.

或是等待處理後轉移到看守所的人。

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

看守所也可用來關押候審的嫌疑人，

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

或者在非常漫長的審理期間關押囚犯。

While they typically only hold individuals guilty of misdemeanors,

雖然它們通常只關押犯有輕罪的人，

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

但如果是多項輕罪且刑期不合併執行的話，

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

那麼一個人被關押的時間可能會遠遠超過不到一年的常規時期。

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

然而，看守所通常提供外出工作計畫、

boot camps, educational programs,

訓練營、教育計畫、

substance abuse support groups,

藥物濫用互助組，

and vocational training programs.

以及職業訓練計畫。

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

然而，監獄與看守所完全是另一個世界。

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

這是關押最頑固的罪犯的地方。

You'll find no misdemeanors here,

在這裡你找不到犯輕罪的人，

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

取而代之的是，監獄關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輕罪的區別，

misdemeanors include offenses such as petty theft,

輕罪包括小偷小摸、

prostitution, simple assault,

賣淫、簡單的輕傷害、

trespassing, vandalism, and reckless driving.

非法侵入、破壞公物以及魯莽駕駛。

Felonies, on the other hand, 表達脈絡

另一方面，重罪，

include crimes such as assault with a deadly weapon,

則包括使用致命武器襲擊、

grand theft, rape, and murder.

重大竊盜、強姦和謀殺。

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

如果必須選擇與這兩群人中的哪一群共度一年或更長時間，

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

我們確信你會選擇輕罪人群。

While jails are run by local governments,

看守所由地方政府管理，

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

而監獄則由州政府甚至聯邦政府管理，

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

聯邦政府擁有獨立於州政府管理系統之外的監獄系統。

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

這兩種類型監獄的區別非常明顯。

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

州立監獄關押違反州法律的人，

and federal prisons hold individuals guilty of breaking federal laws.

而聯邦監獄關押觸犯聯邦法律的人。

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

不過，這兩種罪行之間的區別有時會有些模糊，

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

聯邦囚犯可以包括因為銀行由聯邦政府投保而搶劫銀行的人，

to people accused of political crimes.

以及被控政治犯罪的人。

And many white-collar criminals. 用詞

還有許多白領罪犯。

For these reasons,

出於這些原因，

state prisons are often much more dangerous than federal prisons,

州立監獄通常比聯邦監獄危險得多，

as they hold many more violent offenders.

因為裡面關押著更多暴力罪犯。

If you plan on breaking the law, 語氣意圖

如果你打算違法，

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

請確保違反的是聯邦法律而不是州法律，

for a much safer prison experience.

這樣你的監獄體驗會安全得多。

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

然而，聯邦和州立監獄都分為從最低戒備到最高戒備的級別，

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

犯罪嚴重程度決定了你會進哪裡。

Many white-collar crimes, such as tax evasion,

許多白領犯罪，比如逃漏稅，

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

會讓你在聯邦低度戒備監獄服刑。

Here,

在這裡，

you'll enjoy many amenities, including team sports,

你可以享受許多設施，包括團隊運動、

and a dining facility,

以及餐廳，

with few guards and typically just a single fence.

守衛很少，通常只有一道柵欄。

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

低度戒備監獄往往比真正的監獄更像成人夏令營，

and some even have internet access for their prisoners.

有些甚至還能讓囚犯上網。

Visits with family are common,

與家人探視很常見，

and violence is exceptionally rare.

暴力事件異常罕見。

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

你還能住集體宿舍而不是牢房，

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

總體來說，你的居住體驗更像大學宿舍，而不是真正的監獄。

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

這裡的犯人通常都是非暴力定罪且沒有前科的人，

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

不過有些人可能是因為表現良好，

thanks to exemplary behavior. 片語搭配

從更高戒備級別的監獄轉移過來的。

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

中度戒備監獄才是你想像中的監獄。

And though the inmates do enjoy some degree of independence,

儘管囚犯確實享有一定程度的獨立性，

their movements are all very tightly controlled.

但他們的行動受到非常嚴格的控制。

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

你可以忘了團隊運動或上網這些事了，

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

不過有些監獄可能會提供圖書館電腦供表現良好的個人使用，作為獎勵。

Medium-security prisons also don't have cells,

中度戒備監獄也沒有單間牢房，

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

取而代之的是寬敞的宿舍，幾十個囚犯住在一起。

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

《勁爆女子監獄》（Orange is the New Black）就是中度戒備監獄設施的一個好例子。

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

高度戒備監獄或超級戒備監獄（supermaxes）是關押罪大惡極者的地方。

Yet,

然而，

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

這裡是在美國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,

住在這些地方的是犯下極其暴力罪行的囚犯，或是在低度戒備監獄裡惹是生非的人，

earning them a trip to a much more restrictive life.

這讓他們「贏得」了限制更嚴的生活。

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

試圖越獄或越獄成功後被抓回的囚犯，

are also automatically sent to a maximum-security prison,

也會自動被送到高度戒備監獄，

so their movements can be very closely monitored.

這樣他們的行動就能被密切監視。

Unsurprisingly,

不出所料，

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

在超級戒備監獄裡，囚犯的日常生活受到極大的限制，

and head counts are common.

點名是家常便飯。

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

囚犯通常和另一個人共用一個狹小的牢房，白天可能有一點在牢房內走動的自由，

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

但在熄燈前必須隨時準備接受點名。

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

囚犯也能在食堂吃飯，以及在院子裡進行娛樂活動，

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

在那裡他們可以打籃球或舉重。

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

雖然幫派活動遍及整個監獄系統甚至看守所，

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

但在高度戒備監獄裡達到了頂峰。

And along with the restrictions imposed by the prison system,

監獄系統本身就有許多限制，

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

囚犯們的生活還會受到他們加入的幫派所制定的行為準則進一步限制。

Not joining a gang is possible,

不加入幫派也是可以的，

but typically hazardous to your health. 語氣意圖

但通常對你的健康有害。

Inside a maximum-security prison,

在高度戒備監獄裡，

you can also find solitary lockup, 文化背景

你還能看到單獨關押室，

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

這是最惡劣的犯人度過大部分時間的地方。

Here,

在這裡，

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

服刑期間違規的犯人將被送來作為懲罰。

And though most days last only a few weeks,

儘管大多數情況下只關幾週，

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

但他們最終可能會在單獨關押室裡待上好幾年。

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

像襲擊警衛這樣的行為，不僅會增加你的刑期，

but earn you several months or more in solitary,

還會讓你被單獨關押好幾個月甚至更久，

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

在那裡，你一整天都要蜷縮在狹小的牢房裡，每天只有1小時的戶外活動時間。

During that hour,

在那一個小時裡，

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, 文法

你可以坐在一個通常長寬只有幾步距離的、有圍欄的小室外區域裡，

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

儘管很多時候你可能根本不能出去，因為人手不足的監獄無法抽調人力來安排你這一小時的活動。

Other times,

其他時候，

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

警衛可能乾脆不給你這一小時，作為一種懲罰措施。

Between the two,

在這兩者之間，

you definitely want to serve your time in jail,

如果可能的話，

if you can,

你肯定更想在看守所裡服刑，

or at least in a minimum-security prison,

或者至少是在低度戒備監獄裡，

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

在那裡你可以享受基本相當於成人夏令營的許多待遇。

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

然而，如果你進了中度或高度戒備監獄，

though,

那麼，

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

你不僅要在那裡待很長時間，

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

而且你的生活將會艱難得多，也難受得多。

Which would you rather serve your time in? 文法

你更願意在哪裡服刑呢？

Let us know in the comments.

請在評論區告訴我們。

And as always,

像往常一樣，

if you enjoyed this video,

如果你喜歡這部影片，

don't forget to like,

別忘了按讚、

share, and subscribe for more great content.

分享並訂閱以獲取更多精彩內容。