Appendix:U.S. prison slang

This appendix documents slang terms that appear to be specific to United States prisons. Terms are grouped for convenience' sake by state of known use, though it is likely that many of the terms are used in more than one state.

Nation-wide

• rug – derogatory term for blacks, mocking the texture of their hair

California

• car: Refers to group identity depending on what county you are from. For instance you would hear. " I'm the (shot caller) for [x] County I have the (keys) to the car.
• chomo: Child molestor. They are the most hated and reviled of all inmates and will get stabbed or killed if possible.
• pruno: Alcohol. Often made from fruit and sugar.

Florida

• (Federal) Shot = Incident report, write up
• Buck= Home made alcohol
• Hooch= Home made alcohol
• Jit = young person
• One time = warning that an officer/s is coming
• gunning = masturbating while looking at somebody or something usually in plain sight
• snippen = masturbating as above with the added feature of being covert
• Yard open = rec yard is open or somebody is bending over.
• Tighten Up = Indicating you are about to fight
• Catch the wall = Indicating you need to get in the corner to fight

Hawaii

• Cupper- someone who acts like they have honour then steal when no one is looking

Indiana

• shot: (noun) A spoonful of coffee. (Plainfield Correctional Institution)
• slam: (noun) A meal where ingredients are shared by three or more people to create dinner. (Plainfield Correctional Institution) *whoop: (noun) A sound made by one inmate to warn other inmates that a guard is approaching the area. (Plainfield Correctional Institution)

Iowa

• The Prison Slang Dictionary, written by a currently incarcerated inmate

Louisiana

Bomb: Food stolen from the kitchen and usually for sale. It's called a bomb, because it's wrapped in Saran to the body like a bomb. Most popular being fried chicken.

Maine

• Skinner: A New England slang term for a Child Molester.

Maryland

• Jumpsteady or Jump: Home brew

Missouri

• keister - to insert contraband into the anus
• pistol - tattoo gun
• Rack - A Drink made with coffee, soda, orange or peach drink mix in pitcher with ice.

New York

• kite - letter; correspondence

Ohio

• HOOCH- Homemade alcohol.
• CHO-MO- Child Molester.
• Break- Inmate food made from commisary items rather than go to the chow hall.
• Number- Amount of times one inmate has been incarcerated.
• Down- Amount of time an inmate has served.
• Hustle- An illegal/non-illegal job that an inmate does to be illegally paid.