Prison Slang
What does "kite" mean in prison slang?
A "kite" is a written message or note passed between inmates, often secretly.
What is the name of the infamous island prison located in San Francisco Bay that housed criminals like Al Capone?
Alcatraz
What year did the infamous escape from Alcatraz involving Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers take place?
1962
What do inmates commonly call the prison cafeteria?
The chow hall
What is the name of the women’s prison featured in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black?
Litchfield Penitentiary
What is a "shank"?
A "shank" is a homemade weapon, typically a knife or sharp object used for protection or attacks.
In which country is the prison known as "Black Dolphin," one of the most secure in the world?
Russia
Which French convict famously escaped multiple prisons and was nicknamed "The Man with the Iron Mask"?
François "Papillon" Charrière (popularized in the memoir Papillon)
What is the term for a prison within a prison, where the most dangerous inmates are held in extreme isolation?
Solitary confinement (or Supermax unit)
Which 2005 TV series follows two brothers as one tries to break the other out of prison?
Prison Break
What does it mean if someone is doing a "bid"?
Doing a bid" means serving a prison sentence.
What is the term for the daily time when prisoners must return to their cells and be counted?
Lockdown
What prison did British officer Roger Bushell plan a mass escape from during World War II, later dramatized in The Great Escape?
Stalag Luft III
What is "commissary" in a prison setting?
A store where inmates can buy snacks, hygiene items, and other goods
In the Harry Potter series, what is the name of the wizarding prison guarded by Dementors?
Azkaban
What is a "fish" in prison slang?
A "fish" is a new inmate who has just arrived in prison.
Which prison break movie starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman is based on a novella by Stephen King?
The Shawshank Redemption
In 2015, two inmates escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility in New York with help from a civilian worker. What was her name?
Joyce Mitchell
What’s the slang term used by inmates for a new or inexperienced prisoner?
Fresh fish
In The Dark Knight Rises, where is Bruce Wayne imprisoned before making a dramatic escape?
The Pit
What does "PC" stand for in prison slang?
PC stands for "Protective Custody," where inmates are kept separate for their safety.
What U.S. prison is known for holding high-profile inmates like the Unabomber and El Chapo?
ADX Florence
Which famous American gangster escaped from jail in 1934 using a wooden gun he carved and painted black?
John Dillinger
Which personal hygiene item is often used by inmates as a form of currency?
Ramen noodles (or sometimes cigarettes, depending on the prison)
What film features the quote, “Get busy living, or get busy dying”?
The Shawshank Redemption