1.   Jails generally house those awaiting trial or serving terms of less than a year, while prisons hold convicts serving longer sentences.

2.   The jail holds convicts who have been sentenced to terms of a year or less and defendants awaiting trial.

3.   Agency officials readily admit centers like the one in El Centro are not designed to hold convicts for long periods of time.

4.   In addition to considering pardon applications, the new regional commissions will also monitor the conditions in which convicts are held, according to the presidential decree.

5.   The government on Wednesday announced plans for tough new prison sentences and the construction of new jails to hold more convicts.