Prison slang has existed as long as there have been crime and prisons; in Charles Dickens' time it was known as "thieves' cant". Words from prison slang often eventually migrate into common usage, such as "snitch", "ducking", and "narc".
Jailhouse slang has a long history tied to crime and incarceration; during Charles Dickens' time, it was called "thieves' cant." Phrases from jailhouse lingo frequently enter the general vocabulary.