Final answer:
Yes, the length of time served affects where an inmate will be housed, with longer sentences generally resulting in placement in prisons rather than local jails.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the length of time served does affect where an inmate will be housed. In the United States, inmates who are serving shorter sentences or have committed less serious crimes are usually housed in local jails, while inmates serving longer sentences or have committed more serious crimes are housed in prisons, which are larger and run by either the state or federal government. The severity of the crimes, the behavior of the inmates, and the available resources and funding all play a role in determining the housing location of inmates.