county jail
/ˌkaʊntɪ ˈdʒeɪl/Now chiefly US
noun
A prison serving a county, or one maintained by the county authorities.
- In the United States, a county jail is chiefly used to house prisoners awaiting trial or offenders serving short sentences. State or federal prisons house those convicted of offences carrying longer sentences..
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Divers Remarkable Occurences. From county + jail.