Alarmed over the discovery of 215 multiracial bodies found buried in a pauper’s cemetery behind the Hinds County, Mississippi jail, Reverend Hosea Hines,
Doesn't the prison get paid for every person incarcerated?
No, it's a jail. Jail is part of the county. In most states, the sheriff runs it and the budget is part of the sheriff's budget. When they need money, that go to the county and ask for more. A jail is where people who just got arrested are detained. They are held there until bail is posted or their trial is complete. Frequently minor sentences for misdemeanors (under 1 year) are served in jail, though larger counties usually have a separate place for post trial misdemeanor sentences to be served.
Prison is ran by the state or federal government. It houses people convicted of felonies who are sentenced to do time in a prison (almost always a sentence over 1 year).
There's a lot of similarities and people often confuse them.
This is common all through the south. The movie Brubaker depicts the finding of such graves, and is based on the real-life story of legendary warden Thomas O. Murton, and his efforts to reform Tucker and Cummins Prison Farms in Arkansas in 1967-68. This prison is the namesake of the Tucker Telephone, a torture device where the ringer wires of the telephone line are attached to the inmates genitals, and then the guards call the phone.
1967-68.
Brubaker is a stellar movie, highly recommend. Holds up well through time, too. Very relevant.