incarcerate
Put behind bars
To incarcerate is to imprison or confine someone, typically in a jail or prison.
The word carries a formal or official tone: The state incarcerates more people per capita than any other nation.
Incarceration is the noun form, often appearing in discussions of criminal justice policy and prison reform.
Confinement for offenders
- jailDetention facility
- penitentiaryFacility for convicted criminals
- correctionalAimed at rehabilitation
- cellblockPrison housing unit
warden · inmate · convict · prisoner · sentence · felon · dungeon · gulag
Basic unit of life
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- cageBarred confinement structure
- isolationComplete separation from others
- captivityState of being confined
seclusion · quarantine · internment · segregation · lockup · supermax · restricted · confined
Metal limb restraint
- manacleWrist restraint, usually paired
- handcuffLocking wrist restraint
- chainLinked segments forming length
- fetterAnkle chain for prisoners
bind · restrain · hobble · leg irons · strait jacket · zip tie · ankle monitor · tether
Seize by law
- custodyProtective care or control
- detainHold in custody
- apprehendSeize or understand
- holdMaintain in grasp
capture · detention · remand · booking · processing · pretrial · arraignment · bail
Punishment for wrongdoing
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
correctional · rehabilitation · deterrence · justice · restitution · time served · mandatory minimum · three strikes
Judicial examination of claims
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- convictionFirmly held belief
- verdictOfficial court decision
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · judge · court · adjudicate · guilty · condemned · indictment · charges
prison
Confinement for offenders
- jailDetention facility
- penitentiaryFacility for convicted criminals
- correctionalAimed at rehabilitation
cellblock · warden · inmate · convict · prisoner · sentence · felon · dungeon · gulag · reformatory
cell
Basic unit of life
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- cageBarred confinement structure
- isolationComplete separation from others
captivity · seclusion · quarantine · internment · segregation · lockup · supermax · restricted · confined · sequestered
shackle
Metal limb restraint
- manacleWrist restraint, usually paired
- handcuffLocking wrist restraint
- chainLinked segments forming length
fetter · bind · restrain · hobble · leg irons · strait jacket · zip tie · ankle monitor · tether · immobilize
arrest
Seize by law
hold · capture · detention · remand · booking · processing · pretrial · arraignment · bail · holding cell
penalty
Punishment for wrongdoing
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
penance · correctional · rehabilitation · deterrence · justice · restitution · time served · mandatory minimum · three strikes · recidivism
trial
Judicial examination of claims
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- convictionFirmly held belief
- verdictOfficial court decision
prosecution · defense · judge · court · adjudicate · guilty · condemned · indictment · charges · felony
- mass incarcerationExcessive imprisonment at scale
- incarceration ratesMeasure of imprisoned population
- formerly incarceratedHaving served time previously
incarceration, incarcerated, incarcerating, incarcerates, incarcerations, reincarcerate, reincarcerated, reincarceration