Winter is a cold season, and for inmates in prisons and detention centers, this season has a very different experience. Although both are places of detention, there are significant differences in facilities, management and living, leaving inmates with two very different living conditions in the cold winter. So, what's the difference between a winter in a prison and a detention center?
First of all, there is a clear difference in heating facilities between prisons and detention centers. Today's prisons are generally equipped with a complete heating system to ensure that the indoor temperature is appropriate. In particularly cold places like the north, if there is no heating, it will only be more troublesome for inmates to get sick. The prison also regularly inspects and repairs the heating system to ensure that it is effective. In contrast, the heating facilities in detention centers are relatively rudimentary, and the heating time is relatively short. This is because detention centers are mainly responsible for short-term detention, and the investment in facilities is relatively small. As a result, there is a clear disparity between the temperature perception of inmates in prisons and detention centers in winter. 
Second, prisons and detention centers are managed differently. Prisons are relatively strictly managed, with clear schedules and discipline requirements. In prison, inmates are required to wake up, eat, work and rest at the prescribed time. The prison also carries out various educational and rehabilitative activities to help inmates reflect on themselves and develop good living habits.
Inmates are all transferred from the detention center to the prison, and their families should be able to feel the difference between the two when they meet, and they can usually write a letter to understand the difference.
Detention centers also stipulate work, rest, and meals, but the management is relatively relaxed, and the pace of life of inmates is relatively free. Thirdly, there is also a difference in food security in prisons and detention centers. In prisons, inmates eat a regular diet with meat and vegetables to ensure that they are getting adequate nutrition. In order to resist the cold of winter, the prison will also provide some warm clothing for the inmates, such as cotton clothes and cotton shoes, compared to the relatively poor dietary conditions in the detention center, with a single menu and insufficient caloric intake. This makes inmates in detention centers more likely to feel the cold in winter. 
In addition, there are differences in recreational activities between prisons and detention centers. In order to alleviate the psychological pressure of inmates in winter, the prison will organize various cultural and recreational activities, such as the Spring Festival Gala and sports day. These activities not only give inmates a touch of warmth during the cold winter months, but also help them build a positive mindset. However, there are relatively few recreational activities in detention centers, and inmates may find life boring in winter.