Connection and community care

Prison Is Its Own World

Aug 25, 2025

Harpreet Ahuja

This post was published by The John Howard Society of Canada. Click above to view.

I created this glossary to open a window into that hidden world, documenting the slang, codes, and euphemisms used inside provincial correctional centres in British Columbia.

It’s not about endorsing or condemning. It’s about creating a written record of lives and stories that are too often unseen, and offering a tool for advocates, families, researchers, and anyone who wants to better understand life inside.

📣 If you’d like to add a word to the glossary, share your perspective, or collaborate on writing, research, or policy work around incarceration, please get in touch!