I don’t know what you call it, but I think Prison is a foreign land. The laws and rules aren’t the same and the lingo isn’t the same. There’s dos and don’ts that are foreign; so, we aren’t in Kansas anymore Toto. To make it easier to talk to someone who’s been in prison, or if you’re going to prison, you might want to fit in. Here are some of the slangs that will surely come up in conversations. This will be a growing list as I remember different ones, so you might want to check this post out from time to time. I’ll be sure to add the new ones to the top of the list for your convenience.

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The Hole: Probably the most commonly heard expression. It  is where they segregate you from the general population until you have paid your debt for
breaking the rules.

General Population: This is where you are living with all the other inmates.

PC: Protective Custody. Usually where they put Police Officers who go to prison so they aren’t with inmates that they sent to prison. This is also where they put snitches to keep them from being stabbed. And sometimes inmates will “Check In” because they owe debts that they cannot pay and they are afraid someone will stab them.

Check In: When someone voluntarily goes to Protective Custody, or sometimes these inmates will purposely get caught doing something wrong so that they are sent to the hole to get away from those who might harm them.

Dummy Up: If the guards as, you don’t know anything.

Bitch-Up: Means to do as you’re told.

Turned Out: Being coerced into performing homosexual acts.

Move: Any delivery or pick up of a contraband item.

Drop: It is a package being delivered inside of the prison walls. It may be smuggled in or just a typical “move” within the walls.

Suitcase: Your anal cavity.

Kiester: To put something into your “suitcase”.

Mule: Someone who moves contraband around for you.

Two-for-ones: When inmates loan you something and want you to give them back two of the item that they only gave you one.

Store: An inmate who sells food items to other inmates. Usually “two-for-ones”.

Roller: A guard

Dry-Snitch: It is when someone tells on another inmate indirectly through clever maneuvers. It is a form of snitching which consists of talking loud or acting suspicious when officers can hear or see.

Shake-down: This is when a guard (or many guards) searches the cell or you personally.

Hooch: This is prison made wine.

Hustle: A hustle is anything that you do behind bars that helps you earn more money or food or whatever. This includes drawing, dealing drugs, writing, making hooch, gambling, tattooing, or any other numerous ways to earn a buck.

Punk: The feminine counterpart of the of the homosexual experience. It may be consensual but is usually a forced act.

Punk-out/Turned-out: When someone is forced into having homosexual relations through intimidation, coersion, or rape.

Gumpy: Someone who wants to be the feminine side of a homosexual encounter.

Booty Bandits: Inmates who want to have homosexual relations with another inmate. Some are consensual and some look for weaker inmates to punk-out.

Shank: A homemade knife made in prison. It can be as simple as a piece of glass or a piece of iron the size of a sword.

Contraband: Any item that an inmate has inside the prison that you aren’t allowed to possess. Like a toothpick, a shank, a match, a paperclip, drugs, etc.

Kite: This is a letter system that is sent within the prison. Designed to relay information between inmates and staff, however, clever inmates also use this system to relay contraband within the prison.

Bro: Brother/friend. This person is treated like family.

Dog: Close friend or bro. Nothing sexual implied.

Cellie/Bunkie: This is the inmate that sleeps in the other bunk above or below you. Usually if you sleep in a cell they’re your cellie and if you sleep in a dorm, they’re your bunkie.

The Streets: That is the world outside of Prison.

The Front Gate: The main entrance to the Prison.

The Yard: This is the recreation area where everyone goes for exercise, recreation, and communing with other inmates.

Iron Pile: In Prisons that still have weights, This is where you lift the weights as exercise.

Taylor made: This is any pre-rolled cigarettes made by a manufacturer. They are normally a brand name like Marlboro, Kools, etc.

Roll Up: This is a cigarette. Most inmates can’t afford taylor mades so they buy loose tobacco and roll their own (thus the name “roll-up”).

13 1/2: A popular tattoo and saying behind bars. The numbers are said to represent 12 jurors, one judge, and half a chance (12 + 1 + 1/2 = 13 1/2).

FTW: Another tattoo meaning “fuck the world”. This is a basic saying you don’t need the world. Maybe it’s better to say that than to dwell on what you can’t have.

Chin check: To punch an inmate in the jaw to see if he’ll fight back.

Ninja turtles: Guards dressed in riot gear. They’re in all black and some wear masks so you cannot see who they are.

Ticket: A write-up. The guard makes out a written “ticket” saying that you have broken the rules in some way.

Robocop: A guard who writes a ticket on every infraction, no matter how small.

Six-Five: A term used to say that a guard is coming.

A Six-Five: Is someone who watches for the guards and will warn you of their approach.

Zoom Zooms and Wham Whams: They are usually any kind of individually wrapped cakes or cookies, but can be anything sweet. The name implies that   they make you zoom around because of the sugar and you slam them in your mouth (wham whams).

Nickel: Five years

Dime: Ten years

Quarter: Twenty-five years

Pecker Checker: Someone who peeks at other men’s penis at the urinals or in the showers.

Crash Dummy: Someone sent to do something wrong by a gang leader, knowing that they will most likely be caught doing it.

Jack-Mack: A canned food item, jack mackerel.

Lock In A Sock: One of the easiest weapons to get in prison. Everyone is forced to buy a lock to lock their lockerbox. You take the lock and drop it in a sock and you have a weapon that will do some serious injury.

Mushfake: This is anything that is made by the inmates. It may be arts and crafts, or it may be something illegally made.

Psych-Patient: Anyone on psychological medications and/or seeing a Psychologist.

Tree Jumper: Anyone in Prison for rape. This can also be a child molester.

Kickin The Bobo: A term used to say that you were bullshitting with your buddies.