JAIL JIVE

Information provided courtesy of "Shane", our convict correspondent
who has been incarcerated in the Texas prison system since 1994.
UPDATED 01.17.04:

Ace deuce- your best buddy.

Art work- tattoo.

Bad paper- a “square” rolled in a type of paper other than a rolling paper (e.g., tissue paper).

Ball of yeast- an actual package of yeast ($2 or $3); can brew up to 5 gallons of hooch

Beat your feet- "get outta here"; get away from me.

Behind the wire- in prison.

Bill- $100 bill.

Black Jack- “hooch” made with raisins.

Blanket party- blanket thrown over a person, and he’s beaten.

Blood in- spilling someone else’s blood to get into a gang.

Blow a wig back- to shock someone.

Board- equal numbers of rows and columns drawn on a sheet of paper, for the purpose
of gambling with respect to information contained within the resulting "squares".

Bones- dominoes.

Boss- any prison employee.

Bulldog- to intimidate someone via the use of your talking game (barking). 
“I bulldogged this watch off that fool.”

Bro- member of the same gang.

Brogans- state-issued work boots.

Bumpin’- to talk trash or talk big. 
“Keep on bumpin’ and I’m gonna slide you!

Bump it down- get outta here; get away from me.

Burn up- to unintentionally show someone your junk, or to unintentionally view someone else’s.
"Russ always burns up J.D."

Bump your gums- "trash talkin’"

Canned- when one is assaulted with a canned good inside a sock or pillow case.

Catch out- a prisoner who seeks any form of protection from the prison administration.

Catch the square- fight.

Cell warrior- inmate who talks big, but only while in his cell.

Chain- transferring inmates from one unit to another.
“Sarge says I’m on chain in the morning”.

Cigarette man- an offender who regularly sells cigarettes.

Copy- pattern or stencil used to make tattoos.
"Let me get that copy of the melting skull."

Crash test dummy- someone who can be talked into anything.

Deck- pack of smokes.

Dirty laundry- a prisoner who is bad news (e.g., a snitch).

Doughby ("doe bee")- prison biscuit.

Down low- to keep something secret.
"Keep it on the down low!"

Dry shave- to shave without anything but a razor (no water, shaving cream, etc.).

Dry snitching- to rat someone out for no reason.

Ear hustler- someone who eavesdrops on other’s conversations.

Electrician- person who causes trouble among other inmates.

Flag- a 37 cent stamp.

Fogger-  machine that spews Pepper Gas.

Fly a flag- wear a gang patch.

Game- securing confidence in someone for a purpose other than that to which they
are lead to believe.

Gamblin' shack- any place where dice shooters gather.

Get your bang on- fight.

Get your paper- fight.

Good as gold- someone true to their word.

Good money- any food or drink from the commissary; most accepted for bartering.

Gorilla- to intimidate someone nonverbally using your size, facial expressions, etc. 
"I gorillaed these new tennies off that fool."

Green light- order from a gang leader to attack.

Green money- “free world” paper money of any denomination; equal in value to “good money” 2:1 (e.g., a ten dollar bill would cost $20 worth of  “good money”).

Grill- teeth.

Guns- upper arms.

Handle up- taking care of your business, be it paying off a debt, fighting, stabbing, etc.
"Man you need to handle up before they handle up on you!"

High side- to throw your success, money, power, in another's face.

Hit- to win a "board", "shotgun", "pick 'em"
"I just hit on the $20 shotgun.", OR the planned assault of another.

Hog- to take something of someone else’s right in front of them. 
“Watch me go hog that dude for his Blue Bell.”

Hot shot- homemade lighter.

Hustle- earning money in a way which violates prison rules.
"Gambling is my hustle."

In the paint- fight.

Jack book- porn magazine.

Jonny- sacked meals (in paper sacks) served during lockdowns.

 

Jody- the guy who’s shacked up with your wife or girlfriend.
“Don’t sweat it, homeboy.  All our old ladies have a Jody."

Junk money- commissary hygiene items and postage stamps; not widely accepted in the bartering system.

Kingpin- controller of a unit’s black market.

Kite- any writing or other communication.

Knot- a $20 bag of marijuana (about a gram).

Lace up- to school someone on a particular issue.
“Go lace up that new boot about that punk he’s talking to likes to turn out dudes.”

Mule- someone who is paid to transport contraband.

Paper- small amount of a controlled substance, usually heroin but also meth and cocaine; usually enough for one to 4 doses.

Paper man- inmate who sells cigarette rolling papers.

Pick 'em- sports betting scenario in which a person is required to pick a specified
number of "winners" in order to win the bet.

Pruno- “hooch” made with prunes.

Rand McNally- a virtual “road map” of dominoes in a drawn hand (i.e., a “road map” to victory).

Ride- your gang; to "ride"- to pay for protection.

Set trippin’- fight among members of the same gang.

Shot- cup of coffee.

Shower buddy- jumbo pickles sold at commissary.

Shower shoes- flip flops.

Smash- to beat up someone. 
"If he keeps bumpin’ I’m gonna smash him."

Speedball- a vile mixture of coffee, soda, peppermint stick, chick o stick, chocolate syrup, cocoa, or any combination thereof; made for the purpose of getting wired.

Split a wig- to lacerate someone’s scalp.

Weed stick- toothpick-sized joint, selling for around $5.

Wheel- a can of snuff.

ZuZu's and wham whams- cookies, pastries, candy, etc.
" Say, you got any zuzus and wham whams?"