prison block

[ˈprɪzən blɑːk]
nounpl: prison blocks
bloco de prisão
1. A section or wing of a prison building that houses inmates, typically containing multiple cells arranged in rows or tiers
The guards conducted a routine inspection of the prison block.
Os guardas realizaram uma inspeção de rotina do bloco de prisão.
2. A self-contained unit within a correctional facility with its own security features, amenities, and administrative structure
Maximum security inmates are housed in a separate prison block.
Os detentos de segurança máxima são alojados em um bloco de prisão separado.
3. A building or structure specifically designed for confinement and detention of prisoners
The new prison block can accommodate 500 inmates.
O novo bloco de prisão pode acomodar 500 detentos.
The term is commonly used in official criminal justice and correctional facility contexts in both Brazil and the United States. In Brazil, discussions about prison conditions often reference specific prison blocks, as overcrowding and security issues are frequently organized by block. The phrase gained cultural significance through media, documentaries, and social discourse about the Brazilian penal system, particularly regarding gang organization and inmate hierarchies within blocks.
NYC Slang
the block, jail block, pen block
Synonyms / Sinônimos
cellblockprison wingdetention blockjail blockpenitentiary block
Antonyms / Antônimos
freedomliberty

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
bloco de prisão
Standard term used across Brazil
São Paulo
bloco penitenciário
More formal variant commonly used in official documentation
Rio de Janeiro
bloco de cadeia
Alternative informal usage in some contexts
Portugal
bloco prisional
European Portuguese variant, used in Portuguese correctional systems

Related Words

cellinmateguardcorrectional facilityprisondetention centersolitary confinementsecurity level

Related Idioms & Phrases

locked up in the prison block
run the prison block
prison block mentality
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