Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) to look after one’s own interests.

1962		P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 68: I showed some of that admiration [...] And I’ll continue to do so as long as you program with me.
1968		‘Hy Lit’ Hy Lit’s Unbelievable Dict. of Hip Words 31: program – [...] to be out for personal gains.

2. (US prison) to follow the prison rules in the hope of gaining time off for good behaviour [program n. (2)].

1981

Maledicta V:1+2 (Summer + Winter) 265: A prisoner who adheres to the rules and does his assigned duties so he can get as favorable a break on his parole record as possible is following his program. ‘I’m programming,’ a prisoner says in refusing to join in a petty prank.