What type of institutions are county jails used for?

County jails serve primarily as short-term detention facilities for individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences for misdemeanors and other minor offenses. They are designed to hold individuals for relatively brief periods, often up to a year or less. This is in contrast to facilities like prisons, which are intended for long-term confinement of individuals convicted of more serious crimes. County jails also accommodate those who are arrested and waiting for their court appearances, making them crucial in the local justice system for managing populations that are transient rather than serving lengthy sentences. Hence, their role is pivotal in providing temporary custody rather than fulfilling the requirements of longer rehabilitation or confinement solutions.