监狱指关押一切犯人的场所，包括监狱，看守所，拘留所等。狭义的监狱指依照刑法和刑事诉讼法的规定，被判处死刑缓期二年执行、无期徒刑、有期徒刑的罪犯，在监狱内执行刑罚。
相关词汇
arson n. 纵火罪
burglary n. 入室行窃
commit v. 犯(罪)
confine v. 限制，监禁
convict v 证明……有罪.宣告……有罪
crime n. 罪，罪行
detain v. 拘留
felon n. 重罪犯
felony n. 重罪
imprisonment n. 监禁，关押，坐牢
interrogation n 讯问，审问
jail n. 牢房
murder n. 谋杀，凶杀
prison n. 监狱
prisoner n. 犯人
sentence v. 宣判，判决
smash-and-grab n. 砸橱窗抢劫
stick-up n. 拦路抢劫
suspect n. 嫌疑犯
theft n. 偷盗，盗窃
情景对话:
A: We all know that a prison or jail is a place in which people are physically confined.
B: And imprisonment is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime.
A: Yes. But do you know the history of the prison?
B: Nope.
A: Well, I'm not sure about the earliest prisons, but I do know it was in the 19th century that prisons as today's became commonplace.
B: I hear the modern prison system was born in London.
A: Right. And Britain once practiced transportation of convicted criminals to its colonies in the Americas.
B: Yeah, that's part of the history.
A: Er, did I tell you that I once witnessed a smash-and-grab?
B: Yes, you did.
A: Well, I believe by now the police must have detained some suspects.
B: Actually, it's reported the robbers have been arrested and are waiting for their trial.
A: So they'll be thrown into prison soon.
参考译文
A:我们大家都知道监狱或牢房是囚禁人的地方。
B:而将某人关押起来坐牢是由国家对犯罪行为实施的具有法律效力的惩罚。
A:是的，不过你知道监狱的历史吗?
B:不知道。
A:嗯，我不太清楚早的监狱产生于何时，但我知道是在19世纪时.像现在这样的监狱才普遍了起来。
B:我听说现代的监狱体系诞生于伦敦。
A:的确。英国还曾将宣判有罪的犯人转移到美洲的殖民地。
B:是的，是有这样一段历史。
A:对了，我有没有告诉过你我曾目击了一起砸橱窗抢劫案?
B:你说过的。
A:嗯，我相信如今警方肯定早已逮捕了这起案件的嫌犯。
B:事实上，报道说这起抢劫的罪犯已被逮捕，正等候审判呢。
A:那么他们不久就会被关进监狱的。
想学习更多英语知识，提升英语能力，详情请点击：英语学习网
