A prison cell is a small, secure room in which an incarcerated person in a prison is housed. Prisons feature a large number of prison cell units, allowing for housing of hundreds or even thousands of prisoners at once. A jail cell and a prison cell are essentially the same things, but jail cells are in county or local jails rather than federal prisons or state prisons; jails are often short-term incarceration facilities, while prisons are set up for long-term incarceration. The construction of prison cells is such that the room is impenetrable to prevent inmate escapes and other issues.
Traditionally, a prison cell has been constructed of brick, stone, or concrete, and iron or steel bars are used to lock the prisoner in the prison cell. These iron bars allow guards to see into the cell at any time, and they allow air to flow freely into and out of the cell for better ventilation. Modern prisons often feature cells that are closed within heavy metal doors rather than bars; the cells are then fitted with surveillance cameras as well as viewing windows to ensure guards can see into the prison cell at any time. The doors can be locked quickly and in some cases automatically should an issue arise with a prisoner or many prisoners.
Prison cells are sparsely furnished and very plain. They usually contain a bed, toilet, and sink; some cells feature a desk and chair, all of which is commonly bolted to the ground to prevent the prisoner from using any of the objects as a weapon. Some prisoners may be allowed a television in the cell, but this is not a regular practice in many prisons. It is rare for a prison cell to feature any windows or views of the outdoors. Many prison cells are laid out around a common area where prisoners can sit during certain periods of the day, though some high- and medium-security prisons do not allow this.
The cells are usually made with materials that cannot be easily made into weapons. Sinks and toilets are usually made of stainless steel, and desks and chairs, if available, are made of materials that cannot be broken easily or turned into dangerous weapons. In the past, prison cells may not have featured any furniture at all, and the living conditions within the cells was very poor. Certain human rights acts have prevented this from occurring in modern-day prisons in many parts of the world, though some prisons throughout the world still feature holding cells that can be considered inhumane.