Public defenders, the lowest paid of all, are hired on a fixed fee or fixed salary basis and usually carrying a large caseload. Some attorneys prefer to work as a public defender, protecting the rights of the poor. Private attorneys typically earn more than a public defender. Sometimes private attorneys join together to form a law firm. Private attorneys often work on both civil and criminal cases.
Jails hold both men and women and, if they are abiding by the law, never house juveniles.
Unlike detention centers, jails seldom offer treatment or rehabilitative programs. New generation jails are now appearing on the correctional scene. Due to their expense, they are more often found at the county level where they may hold people from a number of municipalities. These jails provide more secure and safer living quarters, a much more pleasant working environment, and some efforts at treatment. Jails are staffed with officers, case workers, and administrators.