Jails hold individuals who are awaiting trial or are serving short sentences . In Florida, inmates sentenced to serve 364 days or less , serve that time in jail. Jails have a short average length of stay .
Some admissions are for a few hours.
Other pre-trial detainees are held for several years awaiting their trial. Jails must be able to accommodate all arrestees from those charged with misdemeanors to violent criminal offenders. For that reason, most jails are designed as maximum custody facilities. Jails must provide all ranges of medical and mental health services, and be able to handle any medical emergency. Jails operate work release programs, boot camps, and other specialized services.