Coronavirus (COVID-19) Announcement: The safety and well-being of our staff and clients is our top priority during this unprecedented time. We are actively monitoring and responding to all recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our local health authorities. Current information is available HERE.

Pioneer supports criminal justice-involved individuals with the services needed to successfully re-enter our communities. Our mission is to provide individuals with criminal histories the opportunity to lead healthy, productive lives.

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Labels Create Barriers

We believe that words are powerful and can be very stigmatizing and harmful when used to label our citizens who are or were formerly incarcerated. Let’s be clear, the individuals are first and foremost human beings!

We all need to remember that people released from prison or jail share common and descriptive names with everyone else in society to include: grandparent, parent, son and daughter, extended family member, friend, neighbor, colleague and employee. These are the only type of names that should ever be used to describe a person.

When talking about people who have been involved in the criminal justice system, here are labels to avoid and terms that are acceptable:

NEVER USE

Convict

ex-Con

Inmate

ex-Inmate

Offender

ex-Offender

Criminal

Prisoner

Felon

ex-Felon

Parolee

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Meet the People We Serve

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Pioneer Human Services is a nonprofit (501c3) social enterprise. One-hundred percent of our revenues are reinvested within the organization.

NEWS

Donate Today to Pioneer Human Services' COVID-19 Relief Fund

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting us all and especially our most vulnerable clients. This has become clear to us as we assist them with their new realities of lost jobs, lack of child care and stay home....Read more >>

Training and Apprenticeship Pave a Path to Success After Incarceration

Harold graduated from our Roadmap to Success job-readiness program and Manufacturing Academy while he was participating in a drug court program. For over five years, he has worked at Pioneer Industries and he is one of....Read more >>

Willisha Creates Positive Change in Her Life

Pioneer Counseling - Emerson Clinic currently provides intensive outpatient services to individuals who are in the pre-conviction Spokane County Therapeutic Drug Court program, or on federal probation. Clients that....Read more >>