inmates
People behind bars
Inmates are people confined to an institution—most often a prison or jail, but also psychiatric hospitals or similar facilities.
The term emphasizes their status as residents held against their will: The inmates were released into the yard for exercise.
Fellow inmates share confinement: He got along well with his fellow inmates.
Confined criminal detainee
- convictJailed offender after trial
- jailDetention facility
- prisonConfinement for offenders
- cellBasic unit of life
penitentiary · correctional · cellblock · lockup · warden · bars · sentenced · imprisoned
Person held in custody
- detentionTemporary official holding
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- remandReturn for further proceedings
- arresteeOne taken into custody
internee · custody · apprehend · bail · awaiting trial · pretrial · immigration detention · asylum seeker
Recovery from injury/addiction
- reintegrationRestoration to a group
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- probationSupervised trial period
- paroleConditional early release
therapy · counseling · vocational training · GED · work release · good behavior · early release · reentry
Capacity exceeded dangerously
- solitary confinementIsolated imprisonment in cell
- isolationComplete separation from others
- jumpsuitOne-piece body garment
- shacklesMetal bonds for prisoners
handcuffs · strip search · visitation · phone privileges · yard time · cafeteria · infirmary · bunk
Serious crime perpetrator
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
- convictJailed offender after trial
- ex-conFormer incarcerated person
lifer · wrongdoer · lawbreaker · recidivist · death row · first-time offender · nonviolent offender · juvenile offender
prisoner
Confined criminal detainee
cell · penitentiary · correctional · cellblock · lockup · warden · bars · sentenced · imprisoned · jailbird
detainee
Person held in custody
- detentionTemporary official holding
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- remandReturn for further proceedings
arrestee · internee · custody · apprehend · bail · awaiting trial · pretrial · immigration detention · asylum seeker · deportee
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- reintegrationRestoration to a group
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- probationSupervised trial period
parole · therapy · counseling · vocational training · GED · work release · good behavior · early release · reentry · halfway house
overcrowding
Capacity exceeded dangerously
- solitary confinementIsolated imprisonment in cell
- isolationComplete separation from others
- jumpsuitOne-piece body garment
shackles · handcuffs · strip search · visitation · phone privileges · yard time · cafeteria · infirmary · bunk · lockdown
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
ex-con · lifer · wrongdoer · lawbreaker · recidivist · death row · first-time offender · nonviolent offender · juvenile offender · political prisoner
- criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime
- prisoncell block, jail, prison, prisoner, prison cells
- prisonsprison, cells, prisons, prisoner, prison officers
- penologypenology, prisons, parole board, prison, corrections officers
- California PrisonsSan Quentin, Alcatraz, state prison, state prisons, correctional facilities
- detention facilitiesjail, prison, cells, holding cell, prisoners
inmatescivilians
Non-military population
parolees · outpatients · outsiders · ex-convicts · probationers
inmatesguards
Protectors or watchmen
wardens · correctional officers · jailers · administrators · prison guards
- death row inmatePrisoner awaiting execution
- inmate rightsProtections for incarcerated persons
- inmate numberIncarcerated person's tracking code
- female inmatesImprisoned women
- maximum security inmatesMost dangerous incarcerated individuals
- inmate rehabilitationPrograms improving incarcerated persons