One held in confinement against his will. 2. Prisoners are of two kinds, those lawfully confined, and those unlawfully imprisoned. 3. Lawful prisoners are either prisoners charged with crimes, or for a civil liability. Those charged with crimes are either persons accused and not tried, and these are considered innocent, and are therefore entitled to be treated with as little severity as possible, consistently with the certain detention of their persons; they are entitled to their discharge on bail, except in capital cases, when the proof is great; or those who have been convicted of crimes, whose imprisonment, and the mode of treatment they experience, is intended as a punishment, these are to be treated agreeably to the requisitions of the law, and in the United States, always with humanity. Vide Penitentiary. Prisoners in civil cases, are persons arrested on original or mesne process, and these may generally be discharged on bail; and prisoners in execution, who cannot be discharged, except under the insolvent laws. 4. Persons unlawfully confined, are those who are not detained by virtue of some lawful, judicial, legislative; or other proceeding. They are entitled to their immediate discharge on habeas corpus. For the effect of a contract entered into by a prisoner, see 1 Salk. 402, n.; 6 Toull. 82. 5. By the resolution. of congress, of September 23, 1789, it was recommended to the legislatures of the several states, to pass laws, making it expressly the duty of the keepers of those jails to receive and safely keep therein, all persons committed under the authority of the United States, until they shall be discharged by due course of the laws thereof, under the like penalties as in the case of prisoners committed under the authority of such states respectively. And by the resolution of March 3, 1791, it is provided, that if any state shall not have complied with the above recommendation the marshal in such state, under the direction of the judge of the district, shall be authorized to hire a convenient place to serve as a temporary jail.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
One who is deprived of his liberty; one who is against his will kept in confinement or custody. A person restrained of his liberty upon any action, civil or criminal, or upon commandment Cowell. A person on trial for crime. “The prisoner at the bar.” The Jurors are told to “look upon the prisoner.” The court, after passing sentence, gives orders to “remove the prisoner.” See Halrston v Com., 07 Va. 754, 32 S. JDf 797; Royce v. Salt Lake City, 15 Utah, 401, 49 Pac. 290. Prisoner at the bar. An accused person, while on trial before the court is so called. Prisoner of war. One who has been captured in war while fighting in the army of the public enemy.