It is literal. Prisoners can just walk out. ...of course, by doing so they get tossed in a real prison when caught. Sorta the low-tech equivalent of house arrest via monitoring device (yeah he can run off, but we’ll know when he does and toss him in a cage when we catch him).
Thanks for the clarification.
same herein the the good ole USA. I volunteer at the local min/med security county/state lock up.
the min security side remeinds me more of an open college dorm than a correctional facility.most have work duty, many of which are off grounds and un monitored, with the prisoner returning daily on their own. only thing stopping them from walking away is an escape charge and loss of easy livin environment [as far as jails go]...