When you work in a prison you hear and use words and phrases that are understood only in prison. When someone greensheets here where I work it means that they are getting out. Movement means that inmates can move from place to place without a pass or getting out of bounds. Movement here is at 10 minutes before the hour every hour. If you live on the hill it means that you are in the minimum custody part of the prison. Callout is the term for the daily list telling all where appointments for the inmates are. Early outs in the phrase for those inmates lucky enough to get to eat before the rest of their unit so they can get to work or school. The hole is of course where inmates are segregated from the rest of the population. They no longer get bread and water but instead are treated to the same meals as everyone else. COA is the place where inmates are very closely watched so they do not harm themselves. Infractions are issued for breaking the rules. A kite is the term for the paper that is sent from inmates to communicate their needs to staff. Officers here are never called screws but I do hear a lot of inmates call them the police. The place where all the keys are kept is Control but the hallway is the sallyport. Any old inmate here is called grandma. New arrivals are referred to as fish. Fogline means the fog is so thick that it could pose a security risk for escape. Fishing is the term for passing items from cell to cell while locked down. This is usually done with string attached. Pat down means a search of the inmate’s body. Here this can only be done by female staff. Medline is the long line of inmates waiting for their medicine.

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