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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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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Pioneer Human Services is a nonprofit (501c3) social enterprise. One-hundred percent of our revenues are reinvested within the organization.
Pioneer Human Services is proud to announce the Tacoma Residential Reentry Center (TRRC) recently secured a new contract/partnership with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to provide temporary housing for individuals....Read more >>
Expanded space and ADA compliance initiates the Pioneer Counseling clinic move to a new location in the community. Tacoma, Washington — February 6, 2019 — Pioneer Human Services announced the opening of a....Read more >>
Thanks to Julia, a resident monitor at the Snohomish County Diversion Center in Everett that Pioneer operates, who shared her story of recovery and success....Read more >>