Understanding Key Terms in the Prison System

Learn common terms and experiences so you can better understand the realities of incarceration and reentry.

General Terms

• Incarceration – Being confined in prison.
• Sentence – Court-assigned punishment.
• Time Served – Time already spent in prison counted toward a sentence.
• Mandatory Minimum – Minimum sentence required by law.
• Parole – Early supervised release.
• Probation – Supervised alternative to prison.

Types of Prisons

• Federal Prison – For federal offenses.
• State Prison – For state offenses.
• County Jail – Short-term or pretrial detention.
• Private Prison – Operated by private companies under contract.

Time & Sentence-Related

• Life Sentence – Incarceration for life.
• Death Row – Housing for people awaiting execution.
• Good Time – Reduced sentence for good behavior.
• Overcrowding – More inmates than a facility can house.
• Halfway House – Transitional housing post-release.

Experience Inside

• Solitary Confinement – Isolation for 23 hours a day.
• Conjugal Visit – Private family visit in some states.
• Lockdown – Full cell confinement due to emergencies.
• Rehabilitation – Programs preparing for reentry.
• Recidivism – Returning to prison after release.
• Institutionalized – Difficulty adjusting after long incarceration.
• Yard Time – Outdoor exercise or recreation.

Life & Necessities

• Commissary – Prison store for personal items.
• Quarterly Boxes – Periodic care packages from family/friends.
• Visitation – In-person visits.
• Mail Call – Scheduled time for delivering letters/packages.
• Phone Time – Allotted calling time.

Jobs & Economy

• Prison Labor – Assigned work inside prison.
• Hustle – Informal work to earn money/barter.
• Commissary Account – Money account used to purchase commissary items.

Health & Safety

• Mental Health Services – Counseling/therapy in prison.
• Medical Ward – Prison section for serious health care.
• Contraband – Banned items like drugs, phones, weapons.
• Shakedown – Cell search for contraband.

Communication & Support

• Pen Pal Programs – Letter-writing for support.
• Peer Pal – EIN’s one-to-one support program.
• Reentry Programs – Services to help post-release transition.

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