Prison Slang & Acronyms Glossary

U.S. Prison Slang & Acronyms Glossary

Bid – A prison sentence (e.g., “He’s doing a 10-year bid.”)
Doing Time – Serving a sentence
Down – Currently incarcerated (e.g., “He’s been down for five years.”)
On the Inside – Inside prison
Fish – A new inmate
Ride or Die – Loyal inmate or gang member
Shot Caller – A high-ranking inmate who makes decisions for a group or gang
PC (Protective Custody) – Housing unit for inmates at risk from the general population
The Hole / SHU – Solitary confinement (Special Housing Unit)
Kite – A written note or message passed between inmates
Jack – Homemade prison alcohol
Gassing – Throwing bodily fluids at staff or other inmates (extreme form of assault)
Keistering – Concealing contraband in the rectum
Green Light – An order to assault or kill someone
Catch a Case – To be charged with a crime, especially while incarcerated
Pulling Chain – Being transferred between prisons
Boneyard – Visitation area for conjugal visits
Jody – A man who sleeps with a prisoner’s partner while they are incarcerated

A&O (Admission & Orientation) – Initial classification process for new inmates
GED (General Educational Development) – High school equivalency offered in prison
LWOP (Life Without Parole) – A life sentence with no chance of parole
SHU (Special Housing Unit) – Solitary confinement
CDC or CDCR – California Department of Corrections (and Rehabilitation)
BOP – Federal Bureau of Prisons
R&O (Reception & Orientation) – Similar to A&O, used in many states
RHU (Restricted Housing Unit) – A form of segregation
PREA – Prison Rape Elimination Act
ISP (Intensive Supervision Program) – Post-release supervision
I/M – Inmate (often seen in reports or ID tags)

Woods – White inmates (often gang-affiliated)
Bloods / Crips / Norteños / Sureños / Aryan Brotherhood / Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) – Major prison gangs
STG (Security Threat Group) – Institutional term for prison gangs
Car – A group of inmates from the same race or region who stick together

Trusty / Trustee – An inmate given extra privileges for good behavior
Snitch / Rat – Someone who informs on other inmates
Bug – An inmate considered mentally unstable
Cellie – Cellmate
Chomo – Child molester (inmate slang; considered the lowest-status inmates)
Ciddo – Short for Child Indecency, Dangerous & Deviant Offender (inmate slang; considered the most dangerous of sex offenders)
Turnkey – Derogatory term for a correctional officer
J-Cat – A mentally ill inmate (California-specific term)