A detention center is a term used to describe a place where individuals are held in custody for various reasons. There are several synonyms for this term, including holding facility, correctional facility, jail, prison, detention facility, and lock-up. A holding facility is often a temporary location where individuals are held until they can be transferred to a more permanent location. A correctional facility typically houses individuals who have been sentenced to serve time for a crime they have committed. A jail is a facility run by local law enforcement agencies for individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or sentencing. A prison is a facility that houses convicted criminals serving a sentence for a crime they have committed. A detention facility, on the other hand, is a broad term that encompasses facilities that may house individuals who are awaiting deportation or who have violated immigration laws.