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.
Ashlee has lived in Pioneer’s Rialto housing program in Tacoma for over a year now. She’s very happy with where she’s at now, both in housing and in her life in general. Ashlee has been able to turn the pain of her past....Read more >>
Part of New $1 Million Annual Fund Supporting Workforce Development, Arts and Culture and Affordable Housing Seattle, Wash. (October 1, 2019) U.S. Bank recently gifted Pioneer Human Services a $50,000 Community Possible....Read more >>
“ I spent over half of my life in prison and I am NEVER going back. I have worked hard and built my new life with the love and support from my wife and friends, my faith and the tools Pioneer provided. If I can do....Read more >>