state prison

American  

noun

1. a prison maintained by a state for the confinement of felons.

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State prison British  

noun

1. (in the US) a prison where persons convicted of serious crimes are confined

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Etymology

Origin of state prison

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

If convicted of all the charges against her, Mejer faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

But given his scheduled release from state prison, prosecutors decided to file new charges against him.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

It’s a reasonable request, and the border czar credited the state prison system for honoring ICE detainers, as Gov. Tim Walz wrote Tuesday in these pages that Minnesota does.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

“Concrete Mama,” which started in a Washington state prison early last year, calls itself “more than a podcast — it’s a movement.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

As the only state prison for women, Tutwiler has no way to meaningfully classify and assign women to appropriate dorms.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson