General
p.c.
What does p.c. mean?
Protective custody. A separate housing unit for inmates who'd get hurt or killed in general population — snitches, ex-cops, high-profile sex offenders, gang dropouts. Safer in the strict sense, but going PC tanks your reputation everywhere else; on a lot of yards, having been on PC means you can't come back to mainline.
"After his testimony hit the news he had no choice but to request P.C."
Origin
US Bureau of Prisons and state-corrections administrative term, in common inmate use since at least the 1970s.
Frequently asked questions
What does P.C. mean in prison slang?
It stands for protective custody — the segregated unit for inmates at risk of harm.
How do you use P.C. in a sentence?
"After he testified, they put him in P.C. for his own safety."
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