prison
Defined in 6 dictionaries — U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893)
United States Code
18 U.S.C. § 1791 — as used in this section (2 versions over time)
the term “prison” means a Federal correctional, detention, or penal facility or any prison, institution, or facility in which persons are held in custody by direction of or pursuant to a contract or agreement with the Attorney General.
18 U.S.C. § 2246 — as used in this chapter
the term “prison” means a correctional, detention, or penal facility;
18 U.S.C. § 3626 — as used in this section
the term “prison” means any Federal, State, or local facility that incarcerates or detains juveniles or adults accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law;
42 U.S.C. § 15609 — in this chapter
The term “prison” means any confinement facility of a Federal, State, or local government, whether administered by such government or by a private organization on behalf of such government, and includes—
(A) any local jail or police lockup; and
(B) any juvenile facility used for the custody or care of juvenile inmates.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A public building for confining persons, either to insure their production in court, as accused persons and witnesses, or to punish, as criminals. The root is French, as is shown by the Norman prisons, prisoners (Kelham), and French prisons, prisons (Britt. c. 11, "De Prisons"). Originally it was distinguished from "gaol," which was a place for confinement, not for punishment. See Jacob, ''Gaol." But at present there is no such distinction. It is a general term to include jails, penitentiaries, etc.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
A public building for confining persons, either to insure their production, in court, as accused persons and witnesses, or to punish them as criminals. The root is French, as is shown by the Norman prisons, prisoners; Kelham, Norm. Fr. Diet.; and Fr. prisons, prisons. Britton, c. 11, de Prisons. Originally it was distinguished from gaol, which was a place for confinement, not for punishment. See Jacob, Diet. Gaol. But at present there is no such distinction. The United States has no prisons. The joint resolution of September 3, 1789, recommended to the states to authorize state prisons to receive United States prisoners, the latter paying the states for the service. In the absence of a state prison, the marshal, under the jurisdiction of the district judge, may procure a suitable place. See It. S. $ 5537, 5539; Randolph v. Donaldson, 9 Cra. (U. S.) 76, 3 L. E<L 662. A federal, prisoner may be incarcerated in any of the jails of the district; Johnson v. Crawford, 354 Fed. 761. See Penitentiary; Gaol; Prisoner; Detainer; Rules.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A public building for the confinement .or safe custody of persons, whether as a punishment imposed by the law or otherwise In the course of the administration of justice. See Scarborough v. Thornton, 9 Pa. 451; Sturtevant v. Co.m., 158 Mass. 598, 33 N. E. 648; Pen. Code N. Y. 1903, § 92.
— Prison bounds. The limits of the territory surrounding a prison, within which an imprisoned debtor, who is out on bands, may go at will. See Gaol.
— Prison-breaking. The common-law offense of one who, being lawfully in custody, escapes from the place where he is confined, by the employment of force and violence. This offense is to be distinguished from "rescue," (q. v.,) which is a deliverance of a prisoner from lawful custody by a third person. 2 Bish. Crim. Law, § 1065.
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
I. fr. In old English law. taken for crime are confined; person, as by duress; a prisoner.