The jail is primarily used for the detention of criminals and not for the punishment of those who had done wrong. It is used to hold people awaiting trial and those found guilty and awaiting punishment. These sentences are usually corporal (whipping, flogging etc) or capital (death) and so the detention period is short. The jail is also used to hold those who have been sentenced to Transportation to the Americas or Australia and who are awaiting their departure day. The jail could also be used to hold people who have been called as witnesses in a trial but whose attendance was doubtful. They would be held until the day of the trial and escorted to court to ensure that they testified.
