detention

de·ten·tion   (dĭ-těn'shən)    n.   The act of detaining. The state or a period of being detained, especially: A period of temporary custody while awaiting trial. A period of confinement to a detention home. A form of punishment by which a student is made to stay after regular school hours. A forced or punitive delay. [Middle English detencioun, act of withholding, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin dētentiō, dētentiōn-, from dētentus, past participle of dētinēre, to detain; see detain.]

detention 

Main Entry: de·ten·tion
Function: noun
1 : the act or fact of detaining or holding back; especially : a holding in custody
2 : the state of being detained; especially : a period of temporary custody prior to a trial or hearing —see also PREVENTIVE DETENTION

detention

the practice of incarcerating accused individuals before trial on the assumption that their release would not be in the best interest of society-specifically, that they would be likely to commit additional crimes if they were released. Preventive detention is also used when the release of the accused is felt to be detrimental to the state's ability to carry out its investigation. In some countries the practice has been attacked as a denial of certain fundamental rights of the accused.

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