jailbirds
Those behind bars
Jailbirds is the plural of jailbird, a person who has spent time in prison or who repeatedly ends up there.
The term is informal and mildly dismissive, suggesting someone familiar with incarceration: The bar was full of ex-cons and jailbirds.
The image is of a caged bird—someone confined behind bars.
Imprisoned felons
- prisonersIncarcerated individuals
- inmatesIncarcerated individuals
- detaineesPeople held in custody
- ex-convictsPreviously incarcerated individuals
lifers · cellmates · chain gang · repeat offenders · recidivists · parolees · probationers · fugitives
Confinement for offenders
- penitentiaryFacility for convicted criminals
- cellblockPrison housing unit
- lockupTemporary detention facility
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
solitary · confinement · bars · custody · detention · reformatory · correctional facility · chain gang
Argument against
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- liferPrisoner without release
- yardbirdIncarcerated person, slang
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
old-timer · trusty · snitch · shiv · doing time · behind bars · hard time · stretch
Supervisory custodian of place
- guardsProtectors or watchmen
- paroleConditional early release
- probationSupervised trial period
- bailCourt-set release payment
sentence · release · appeal · rehabilitation · reentry · reintegration · restrictions · parole board
convicts
Imprisoned felons
ex-convicts · lifers · cellmates · chain gang · repeat offenders · recidivists · parolees · probationers · fugitives · escapees
prison
Confinement for offenders
- penitentiaryFacility for convicted criminals
- cellblockPrison housing unit
- lockupTemporary detention facility
dungeon · solitary · confinement · bars · custody · detention · reformatory · correctional facility · chain gang · hard labor
con
Argument against
fish · old-timer · trusty · snitch · shiv · doing time · behind bars · hard time · stretch · rap sheet
warden
Supervisory custodian of place
bail · sentence · release · appeal · rehabilitation · reentry · reintegration · restrictions · parole board · good behavior
jailbirdsfree men
Emancipated former slaves
innocents · prison guards · wardens · jailers · corrections officers
jailbirdspillars of the community
Respected, influential local figures
do-gooders · police officers · straight arrows · cops · saints
jailbirdsprison guards
Penitentiary security personnel
wardens · jailers · corrections officers · cops · police officers