Street
porter
What does porter mean?
A prisoner whose job is cleaning and maintaining a housing unit or common area, a desirable trusted position.
"As the tier porter he had extra time out of his cell."
Origin
From 'porter' as a cleaner/attendant.
Frequently asked questions
What is a porter in prison?
It's an inmate assigned to clean and maintain a housing unit or common area. It's a trusted, sought-after position.
Why is being a porter desirable?
The job often comes with extra time out of the cell and a degree of trust, as in 'As the tier porter he had extra time out of his cell.'
Where does the term come from?
It comes from the ordinary sense of 'porter' as a cleaner or attendant, applied to the inmate holding that job.
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