A
military prison is a
prison operated by the
military. Military prisons are used variously to house
prisoners of war,
unlawful combatants, those whose freedom is deemed a
national security risk by the military or national authorities, and members of the military found guilty of a serious crime. Thus, military prisons are of two types: penal, for punishing and attempting to reform criminals within the military, and confinement-oriented, where captured enemy combatants are confined for military reasons until hostilities cease.