How can "incarceration" be defined?

Incarceration is defined as the confinement of individuals in correctional facilities, which encompasses jails, prisons, or other detention centers. This definition is pivotal as it captures the essence of what incarceration entails—restricting a person's freedom as a consequence of legal judgments or as a means of punishment.

This confinement serves several purposes, including deterring criminal behavior, protecting society, and providing a means for rehabilitation, though the focus in defining incarceration is primarily on the physical aspect of being housed in a facility. Understanding this definition allows one to better grasp the structure of the criminal justice system and the role of correctional facilities within it.