Answer: The main factor which differentiates jails from the prison are the duration of the stay.
Explanation: Jails are mainly designed for individuals for a short period, less than a year. It consists of people awaiting trials or serving sentences. While the prison holds the individuals for a longer period. The crime will be more serious.
Prisons are managed by the state or the federal governments while jails are operated by local law enforcement agencies or county governments.