Articles & News

June 2, 2008

Words we use in reentry

At the numerous seminars, discussions, and panels I attend in the United States concerning prisoner re-entry I encounter more and more well-meaning people who sincerely want to help individuals returning home from a period of incarceration (see “Man of Conviction,” May). However, many of these people are using language that is hurtful and counterproductive to the re-entry cause. I realize their pejorative words are not intended to set the movement back, but they are—out of ignorance—perpetuating stereotypes with their words nonetheless.

Negative terms like “ex-cons” and “ex-felons” are buzzwords the media use to conjure up images of persons who are still a danger to society and therefore should be closely watched and/or are not worthy of our trust. It is much easier to treat people unfairly, deny them employment, and make their return from a period of incarceration all the more difficult if, in the public mind, these individuals deserve such treatment.

Years ago the homeless used to be called “bums,” “hobos,” and “vagrants,” but these terms are no longer acceptable when referring to this population. In a similar fashion individuals suffering from mental illnesses were once called “lunatics,” but when society came to the conclusion that we should treat these individuals with respect, the first step in the process was to change the language.

A similar change must occur in this field if we are serious about instituting real solutions to a growing national problem. The accepted term in prisoner re-entry today is “formerly incarcerated persons,” and the faster we can make the linguistic shift, the faster this pressing problem will be solved.

—Charles See has been the executive director of Lutheran Metro Ministry’s Cleveland Community Re-entry program—the oldest re-entry program in the United States—for thirty-one years.