Popular Prison Terminology
Popular Prison Terminology refers to the informal slang, acronyms, and phrases commonly used by incarcerated individuals, staff, and advocates within the federal and state correctional systems. This evolving lexicon reflects institutional culture, power dynamics, security procedures, and daily life behind bars. While regional and facility-specific variations exist, many terms have become widespread across the United States, especially in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) system. Understanding this terminology aids communication between inmates, families, attorneys, and reentry professionals.[1]
As of 2025, digital platforms and former inmates have popularized terms through podcasts, books, and social media, though BOP policy prohibits recording or publishing internal slang without approval.[2] Knowledge of these terms helps families interpret correspondence and supports effective advocacy during incarceration and reentry.
Common Categories and Terms
Prison slang spans food, housing, discipline, programs, and interpersonal dynamics. Below are widely recognized terms in federal facilities as of 2025.
Housing and Units
- Camp or Federal Prison Camp (FPC): Minimum-security “Club Fed” facilities with dorm housing and no fence.
- SHU (Special Housing Unit) or the Hole: Segregated/segregation housing for disciplinary or protective custody.
- Pod or Tier: Housing unit or floor within a facility.
- Cube vs. Cell: Open-bay dormitory cubicle (camp/low) versus locked two-person cell (medium/high).
- Fish: New arrival; “catching out” means completing sentence.
People and Roles
- CO (Correctional Officer) or Hack: Prison guard.
- CM (Case Manager): BOP staff member responsible for managing inmate cases, including custody classification, program referrals, release planning, and responding to inmate requests (cop-outs). Each inmate is assigned a CM who handles their administrative needs.
- Warden or The Man: Facility head.
- Shot Caller: Influential inmate who maintains order within racial/group lines.
- PC (Protective Custody) or Check-In: Inmate requesting segregation for safety; often viewed negatively.
- Snitch or Rat: Informant; “paperwork” (PSR/discovery) used to verify status.
Food and Commissary
- Spread or Boat: Homemade meal combining commissary items (e.g., summer sausage, rice, chips).
- Store or Commissary Day: Weekly shopping from canteen.
- Swipe: Trade or loan commissary items (often with interest).
- Hooch or Pruno: Homemade alcohol from fruit, sugar, and bread.
Discipline and Security
- Shot or Ticket: Incident report leading to disciplinary hearing.
- Diesel Therapy: Frequent transfers to disrupt inmate relationships or as punishment.
- Kite: Written request or note to staff (e.g., medical, cop-out).
- Lockdown: Facility-wide restriction to cells (planned or emergency).
- Count: Official headcount (5–7 times daily); “standing count” requires visibility.
Programs and Release
- RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program): Nine-month substance treatment earning up to 12 months off sentence.
- FSA Credits or Time Credits: First Step Act earned credits for programming (10–15 days per 30 days).
- Halfway House or RRC (Residential Reentry Center): Prerelease community placement.
- Gate Money: Small cash disbursement upon release (typically $40–$100).
- Good Time: Statutory sentence reduction for good conduct (54 days/year).
Miscellaneous
- Car: Clique or racial/group affiliation (e.g., “White car,” “PA car” for Pennsylvanians).
- Keister or Hoop: Hide contraband in body cavity.
- Ninja Turtles: Officers in riot gear.
- Road Dog: Close friend doing time together.
- Jack Mack: Canned mackerel (high-value commissary protein).
How Terms Are Used
Inmates use slang in letters, phone calls, and TRULINCS emails, often to evade monitoring or maintain cultural identity. Staff adopt some terms informally but avoid endorsing others in official reports. Families learn terminology through experience or online communities (e.g., PrisonTalk, Reddit r/ExCons).[3]
Regional and Demographic Variations
Federal camps favor milder terms (“cube,” “store man”), while higher-security facilities use harsher slang (“hole,” “diesel”). Women's facilities often emphasize different food spreads and relationship terms. Spanish-influenced slang (“jale” for job, “casa” for cell) predominates in Southwest institutions.
Impact and Evolution
Slang fosters solidarity but can reinforce racial divisions or intimidate newcomers. BOP occasionally bans specific words in correspondence (e.g., gang terminology). Post-2018 First Step Act, terms like "FSA credits," "PATTERN score," and "EBRR" became universal.[4]
TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts by former inmates have mainstreamed terms like “catching out” and “spread,” shifting perception from purely criminal to cultural.
Criticisms and Challenges
Advocates argue slang dehumanizes (“inmate” vs. “person”) and perpetuates stigma post-release. BOP's 2024–2025 push for “person-first” language in staff training contrasts with inmate culture retaining traditional terms. Over-monitoring of slang in emails has led to rejected messages and First Amendment litigation.
Background
Prison slang dates to 19th-century American jails, blending British convict argot with immigrant influences. Federal system standardized some terms after 1930 BOP creation, with major updates following 1960s–1970s drug era, 1990s gang influx, and 2018 First Step Act.
Recent Developments
2025 saw new terms emerge: “credit farming” (maximizing FSA programming), “tablet hustles” (renting media), and “Zoom visits” for video calls. BOP's tablet expansion introduced “streaming” for paid music/video.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ "Prison Slang Glossary". Prison Fellowship. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ↑ "Prison Lingo: A Glossary of Common Terms". The Marshall Project. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ↑ "Prison Slang: Words and Expressions Defined". Prison Writers. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ↑ "How the First Step Act Changed Prison Language". The Appeal. Retrieved November 24, 2025.