Adult correctional facilities in Ontario are divided into four categories: correctional centres, jails, detention centres, and treatment centres. Some facilities are more than one type. Correctional centres house sentenced offenders who are serving a period of
incarceration of up to two years, less a day. Provincial jails (historically spelled
gaols) and detention centres house
persons awaiting trial, offenders serving short sentences, or offenders awaiting transfer to other facilities.
Jails are smaller and older facilities originally established by local governments while detention centres are larger, regional facilities. Treatment centres are specialized facilities treating offenders for sexual misconduct, substance abuse, anger management, and other issues. Youth correctional facilities in Ontario are also called "secure custody facilities" and hold young people who are between 12 and 17 years of age. Youths are held in secure custody facilities if they are sentenced to secure custody after being found guilty of a crime or if a youth is ordered to be held in custody before or during a trial. , the
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services directly operates six secure custody facilities. == Operational correctional facilities ==