I created this prison dictionary by interviewing fellow prisoners who were staying at the Atlanta Transitional Center. The prisoners who contributed were actually those that I taught in my GED (General Educational Development) class. It was originally supposed to be included at the back of Retribution: Serendipity, but was cut to shorten the book. Some of these are Atlanta-specific. Here it is in full, but be warned: Some of these slang terms are rather obscene and graphic.
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100: A phrase said when one agrees with something
95: An inmate (1095 is the code used by the DOC to describe inmates, usually on a two-way radio)
B
Baby mama: The mother of an inmate’s child (usually not married to the inmate)
Band: Nickname for a $1000 bill (See: Stack)
Blast: When something is said aloud for all to hear (ex. “Being put on blast”)
Blue steel: A paper wrapper from a roll of toilet paper, used to roll a cigarette
Bo-bo: Black tennis shoes issued to inmates upon release
Bomb: A certain amount of an item (ex. a”bomb of coffee”)
Bombay: An elaborate drink concoction made by inmates, mimics an alcoholic drink
Buck: Homemade liquor
Buck: To refuse to follow an order or call-out
Bulb: An inmate-made device that allows one to boil water. (See also: Water-bug)
C
Call-out: When inmate is pre-ordered to be at an appointment (Medical appointment, counselor, etc.)
Car-cam: A digital camera mounted on a car to record events (Usually 360 degrees)
Catch-out: To do something to get into trouble (See also: P.C.)
CERT Team: A SWAT-like team used for disciplinary and emergency situations in prison
Chow: The contents of a prison meal
Chow hall: The central space used for serving meals (can also be an activity space)
Count: To be accounted for (Every two to three hours, all inmates within a prison must be counted)
Count-time: The time when a prison stops all inmate movement to count
Covered wagon: To hang sheets around a bunk in order to hide homosexual activities
Crop-dust: To walk by one or more inmates and fart
D
Day-room: The public space in a dorm for inmates to sit and watch TV
DOC: Department of Corrections
Dorm: Inmate living environment (Usually includes cells and a day-room)
Down the road: Georgia’s Diagnostic Prison. Used because it is south of/”down the road from” Atlanta
Do-wop: To attempt to obtain an additional serving of food during chow-call
Dry snitch: An inmate who reports someone to authorities while the person they are reporting is within earshot
Duck: A loser/undesirable person
F
Fe-Fe: An artificial vagina used for masturbation
Finger: A portion of an item (like coffee) placed in the finger of a rubber glove for transport
Fish: To pull items from one cell or dorm to another with a string or rope
Five-0: (aka 50) An officer. Comes from the tv show Hawaii Five-0. (See also: “In here”, Twelve)
Flop: A a cell phone (See also: Line)
G
Gay for the stay: Used to describe a man who participates in homosexual activities while in prison, despite being heterosexual outside of prison
GDC: the Georgia Department of Corrections
GED: (General Education Degree) An alternative to a High School Diploma
Ghetto Smurf: A female staff member wearing an excessive amount of makeup and/or hair products
H
Homey/Homeboy: A friend
Hustle: A method of making extra income while in prison
I
“In here”: A phrase yelled when an officer enters a dorm to alert others to their presence (See also: Five-0, Twelve)
Intake: The area where inmates initially are processed upon arrival to a prison
J
Jeff: To talk or socialize with an officer
J: A junkie
L
Line: A cell phone (See also: Flop)
Lockdown: A state in which a dorm or an entire prison is secured from all inmate movement
M
Mark: The target of an attack or assault
Max-out: The actual date that one’s sentence ends. One cannot be held beyond this date
O
Old School: Nickname for an inmate over the age of 40
Old Sparky: Nickname for the Georgia electric chair
OMS: (aka Offender Movement Schedule) One’s recurring work and class schedule
P
P.C.: (aka Protective Custody) The state of being separated from the rest of the population for safety. (See also: Catch-out)
Pack-out: A prepared meal, usually made for lunch. typically consists of sandwiches
Pat-down: To be checked for contraband (See also: Shakedown)
PED: (Parole Eligibility Date) Date when an inmate is reviewed for a TPM (Typically 1/3 of time)
Pocket: A meal created using a pre-packaged soup and additional ingredients
Po-lice: A person who is affiliated with officers. Derogatory
Popper: Device made to create fire, usually to light cigarettes (See also: Stinger)
“Put some water on it”: To repeatedly flush a toilet while using it to avoid smell (a courtesy to others)
Q
Queen dike: (aka bitch) The dominant female inmate in a dorm
R
Rottweiler: Meat used for sandwiches
S
Seaport: An inmate from the Savannah, Georgia area
Shakedown: An event in which an inmate or their environment is checked for contraband. (See also: Pat-down)
Shank: A homemade knife used for self-protection or assault, often poorly made
Shoot the one: To get into a fight or major disagreement
Spork: A spoon/fork combo. Often the only utensil available for eating meals
Square: Someone who is not well-versed in prison life/culture
Squirrel: To hide something
Stack: A $1000 bill (See also: Band)
Stinger: An inmate-made device that allows one to create fire, usually used to light cigarettes. (See also: Popper)
Store: A place where inmates can buy supplies and food
Strap-up: To put one’s boots on to prepare for a fist fight
Stripes: Georgia prison uniforms, nicknamed for having a single blue stripe
Suitcase: To shove contraband up one’s anal passage or vagina for transport
Supercop: An annoyingly assertive officer who follows rules to the letter
T
TABE Test: An educational exam used to determine an inmate’s academic standing
Tat: Prison tattoo
The hole: A place where inmates are isolated (usually as a punishment or for protection)
To the door: To do an entire prison sentence with no parole
TPM: (aka tentative parole month) The approximate date given by parole for release
Twelve: An officer. (Comes from the TV show Adam-12). (See also: Five-0, “In here”)
U
Up the river: A prison in New York state, above New York City
W
Wam wam: Goods purchased at the prison store. (See also: Zoom zoom)
Water-bug: An inmate-made device that allows one to boil water. (See also: Bulb)
Whip: A car driven by officers
White boy: A cigarette rolled by an inmate
Y
Yard: A large, secure, outdoor space for inmate recreation
Yard call: An event in which inmates can partake in outdoor recreation
“You feel me?”: A phrase said by someone asking if one understands what has been said
Z
Zoom zoom: Goods bought at the prison store (often desserts). (See also: Wam wam)
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