jailbird

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

jailbird
    n 1: a criminal who has been jailed repeatedly [syn: {jail
         bird}, {jailbird}, {gaolbird}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

jailbird \jail"bird`\, jail bird \jail" bird`\
   A prisoner; one is in prison or who has been confined in
   prison. [Slang]
   [PJC]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

45 Moby Thesaurus words for "jailbird":
      Judas, POW, betrayer, cageling, captive, chain gang, con, convict,
      criminal, crook, deceiver, desperado, desperate criminal, detenu,
      double-dealer, ex-convict, felon, fugitive, gallows bird, gangster,
      gaolbird, internee, lag, lawbreaker, lifer, loser, mobster, outlaw,
      parolee, political prisoner, prisoner, prisoner of war,
      public enemy, quisling, racketeer, scofflaw, stir bird, swindler,
      thief, thug, ticket-of-leave man, ticket-of-leaver, traitor,
      trusty, two-timer