Prison language has its roots in codes and secret communications that allowed criminals to communicate with each other in privacy; this language is called argot. Criminal cant is similar to argot except that it is a temporary form of language that changes quickly. Other forms of language in correctional institutions include idiom, slang, acronyms, abbreviations, metaphors, similes, jargon, private languages, and patois. Corrections is a communication-intensive profession. The functions of language include the communication of ideas, emotional expression, social interaction, using the power of sound, controlling reality, recording facts, expression of thought, and expression of identity. Language and communication in prison are strongly related to the context, including the settings, the participants, and the activity. A significant barrier to inmate-staff communications is the distrusted source barrier. Other barriers include those related to defensive behavior, distorted perceptions, erroneous translation, distortions from the past, and lack of congruence. Understanding inmate communication processes and the barriers that lead to communication collapse is imperative for the continued orderly running of a correctional facility and to aid personnel in responding to inmate issues. 13 references