Prison Terminology and Glossary

Prison Terms & Jargon That Start With "V"

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Vacated Sentence: A sentence is vacated if possibly overturned by the appellate courts or there was an error found in the case. Typically an inmate will be transferred from prison to a county jail to go in front of a judge to be released or to be charged with additional crimes.

Variance: A facility/office request to be more or less restrictive than an administrative regulation, or for any other deviation to an administrative regulation.

Vegetarian Diets: A diet composed predominately of plant foods and may or may not include fish, eggs and dairy products. As described below:

1. Lacto Vegetarian: A diet which excludes meat, poultry, fish and eggs. May contain milk and milk products.
2. Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A diet which excludes meat, poultry, and fish. May contain eggs, milk and milk products.
3. Lacto-Ovo-Pesco: A diet which excludes meat, and poultry. May contain fish, eggs, milk and milk products.
4. Vegan - A diet which excludes meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. May contain fruits, grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Vehicle Search: The visual and physical search of a vehicle.

Vending Commissions: A fee received from contracted vendors, for vending operations in areas common to offenders and offender visitors.

Vendor: One who sells goods or services to the DOC.

Victim: As defined in most state statutes, "any natural person against whom any crime has been perpetrated or attempted, UNLESS THE PERSON IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CRIME OR A CRIME ARISING FROM THE SAME CONDUCT, CRIMINAL EPISODE, OR PLAN as crime is defined under the laws of this state or of the United States, OR, IF SUCH PERSON IS DECEASED OR INCAPACITATED, THE PERSON'S SPOUSE, PARENT, CHILD, SIBLING, GRANDPARENT, SIGNIFICANT OTHER, OR OTHER LAWFUL REPRESENTATIVE.".

Violent Behavior: Conduct and/or behavior, verbal and non verbal, which includes but is not limited to:

• Verbal and/or physical aggression
• Attack, threats
• Harassment
• Intimidation
• Other disruptive behavior in any form, or by any media, which causes or could cause a reasonable person to:
  • Fear physical harm by any individual(s) or group(s) against any person(s) or property.

Violent Offender: An offender who has a current conviction determined by the DOC to be a violent felony offense. The offenses outlined in a statute reflects acts of violence in which the offender used, or possessed and threatened the use of, a deadly weapon during the commission or attempted commission of any crime committed against the elderly at-risk adult or handicapped, or any other specific crime.

Visit: Visits approved for social purposes between offenders, their family, and friends.

Visitor: Any authorized person visiting a DOC facility, center, or office.