General
j-cat
What does j-cat mean?
A prisoner classified as psychiatrically disturbed — the guy who might talk to the wall for an hour then try to bite a guard. The 'J' refers to California Department of Corrections category J, the designation for inmates needing psychiatric housing. You give a J-Cat a wide berth.
"Cell him alone, he's a J-Cat — last week he set fire to his mattress for no reason."
Origin
California prison system. From CDC classification code 'Category J' for mentally disordered inmates, dating to the 1960s–70s.
Frequently asked questions
What does J-Cat mean in prison slang?
It refers to a mentally unstable inmate whose behaviour is wildly unpredictable.
How do you use J-Cat in a sentence?
"Steer clear of the new guy on the tier — word is he's a J-Cat."
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