Language Matters

It’s important to remember that, above all else, these individuals are human beings.

They share common roles and identities with everyone else in society—whether it’s as a parent, grandparent, friend, neighbor, employee, or colleague. These are the labels that should define them, not their past experiences with the criminal justice system. When we use labels that focus solely on incarceration or criminal history, we ignore the complexity of their identity and their capacity for change, growth, and redemption. The terms we use can have profound consequences on the lives of those they describe. Labels that are associated with incarceration, criminality, and substance use disorders often evoke shame, alienation, and a sense of powerlessness. We must challenge ourselves to shift the language we use to reflect empathy, dignity, and the recognition that everyone deserves the opportunity to heal and rejoin society without the weight of their past actions or struggles being constantly tied to their present identity.

Labels to Avoid: Why These Terms Are Harmful

Certain terms perpetuate negative stereotypes and focus too heavily on a person’s past or their involvement in the criminal justice system. When used, they can create lasting barriers to reintegration, reinforcing the idea that someone is defined by their mistakes or their struggles, rather than by their capacity to change or the potential for their future.

Convict – ex-Con – Inmate – ex-Inmate – Offender – ex-Offender – Criminal – Prisoner – Felon – ex-Felon – Parolee – Probationer

These terms are all highly stigmatizing and reduce a person to a single aspect of their identity—specifically, their past behavior or legal history. Here’s why they’re problematic:

1. “Convict” or “ex-Con”: These terms are closely tied to a person’s criminal actions. They focus solely on what a person has done in the past, not on who they are now or their potential for growth. Using these labels reduces a person to a permanent status of criminality, which can make reintegration into society more difficult and stigmatizing.
2. “Inmate” or “Prisoner”: These terms are defined by a person’s current status in the criminal justice system, rather than their humanity. They erase any sense of personhood and can create a sense of powerlessness. People in prison are not defined solely by their confinement—they are also parents, siblings, workers, and community members.
3. “Offender” or “Felon”: These terms emphasize wrongdoing and criminality, reducing individuals to their worst moments. Labeling someone as an “offender” or “felon” perpetuates the notion that their criminal behavior is the most significant or defining aspect of their identity, even after they have served their time and moved forward with their lives.
4. “Parolee” or “Probationer”: These terms focus on the restrictions that follow someone’s release, again framing the individual by the system’s labels. They remind others that the person is still under scrutiny, potentially making it more difficult for them to be seen as fully free or rehabilitated.

Each of these terms carries an inherent bias and is imbued with negative societal perceptions. They diminish a person’s dignity by linking them permanently to their criminal history, rather than acknowledging the possibility of redemption, transformation, or second chances.

Preferred Descriptive Words: Recognizing Humanity and Potential

When we want to describe individuals who are returning to society after incarceration, we should focus on language that emphasizes their humanity and their capacity to contribute to society as whole people, not just as their criminal pasts. These alternative terms allow us to see the person behind the label and move toward greater empathy and understanding.

Person – Individual – Citizen – Returning Citizen – Community Member – Incarcerated Individual – Incarcerated Person – Formerly Incarcerated Individual – Resident – Formerly Incarcerated Person

These terms, while still acknowledging an individual’s history or current status, focus less on their criminal past and more on their status as people who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Here’s why these are better options:

1. “Person” and “Individual”: These are basic, neutral terms that highlight the individual’s humanity. They do not reduce someone to their past mistakes or actions. Instead, they allow the person to be seen in their full context, as a human being with a unique life, experiences, and potential.
2. “Citizen” or “Returning Citizen”: This term reaffirms that people who have been incarcerated are still part of society. It emphasizes their membership and the possibility of re-entering as full, active participants. “Returning Citizen” also highlights the hopeful idea of reentry and integration, instead of focusing on someone’s time spent behind bars.
3. “Community Member”: This term shifts focus to the person’s role in their community. It emphasizes that even those who have been incarcerated are still members of the communities they return to, and their contributions as neighbors, friends, and family members should not be overlooked or minimized.
4. “Incarcerated Individual” or “Formerly Incarcerated Individual”: These terms simply acknowledge an individual’s involvement with the criminal justice system without reducing them to that status. By using “formerly” or “currently,” we show an understanding that a person is more than their incarceration and that they can move forward and change.
5. “Resident”: This term indicates that the person is part of a specific place, whether that’s a community, facility, or location. It conveys the idea that the individual is more than just their past—people who have been incarcerated are still capable of being contributing members of the spaces they inhabit.

Language and Substance Use/Mental Health: Recognizing Struggles, Not Defining Identity

Similarly, when describing individuals struggling with substance use or mental health issues, the language we use can deeply influence perceptions. Negative labels, such as “addict” or “crazy person,” can further isolate people, intensifying feelings of shame and hopelessness. These labels also fail to acknowledge that substance use and mental health challenges are often the result of complex, multifactorial issues, including trauma, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors.

NEVER USE

“Addict” – “Junkie” – “Drug Addict” – “Mental case” – “Crazy person”

These terms are inherently derogatory. They reduce individuals to their illness or struggle, stripping away their personhood. They can foster a sense of shame and social rejection, making it harder for individuals to seek help, access support, and move forward with their lives.

Acceptable Descriptive Words

“Substance use disorder” – “In recovery” – “Mental health issues” – “Struggling with mental health”

• These terms are more neutral and empathetic, recognizing that individuals may be working through challenges rather than being permanently defined by them. Using “in recovery” or “struggling” allows room for growth, healing, and transformation. These terms also shift the focus from judgment to support, helping reduce the stigma associated with mental health and addiction.

Conclusion: Language Shapes Perception and Opportunity

The language we use has the power to shape our perception of others and, in turn, the opportunities they are afforded. By choosing words that affirm the humanity, dignity, and potential of individuals—whether they are returning from incarceration, recovering from substance use, or managing mental health—we create an environment where people can reintegrate, heal, and thrive. Let’s ensure that our language reflects the belief that everyone has the capacity to change and the right to be seen for who they are, not just for what they have done or what they are struggling with.

Words are not just descriptive—they are transformative.