The Marshall Project: The Language Project
Reporters and editors have long believed that terms such as “inmate,” “felon” and “offender” are clear, succinct and neutral. But a vocal segment of people affected by the criminal justice system argue that these words — and any other words that define human beings by their crimes and punishments — are dehumanizing.
The Language Project serves three purposes. First, through a series of powerful pieces by and about people with intimate experience with incarceration, we show the human impact of the words we choose. Second, our guide, “What Words We Use — and Avoid — When Covering People and Incarceration,” makes public our decision to avoid labels such as “inmate,” in favor of language that follows the logic of “person-first” language. Third, we provide alternatives to the labels.
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Politicians LOVE using destructive and demeaning language to instill fear into the voting public. Fear creates destructive laws and violent law enforcement responses.
I noticed in a recent article on the border crisis …or …term dejuer… concern was expressed about how many drug dealers, criminals, terrorist and sex offenders were coming in…REALLLY…sex offenders have their own special place in the litany of dangerous persons?
I hate to disappoint those who use labels to identify people, as I consider the source driving such people and thank God I’m not driven by the same demon. As my dad used to say…”Call me anything except late for dinner’.
There is a ton of truth to what the Language Project shares. Years about (circa 2005) I was working for a company as a manager with hiring/firing responsibilities. We did not have a formal HR but did try to stay current with what a formal HR person would do. In that effort, I was invited to attend a lecture on the concerns of hiring persons who are sex offenders. I was about 5 years on the registry and over 2 years off supervision. My GM asked if I wanted to attend in his absence as I was probably the most up to date on the subject.
The lecture was given at UNF and there were about 100 persons present. The “expert” was a Lawyer with years as a Prosecuting Attorney. He started doing lectures when he realized how so many HR persons were placing their companies in peril by hiring individuals who were SO or SP. The expert started the lecture by stating “I will be using the term Sexual Predator or Predator intermittently with Sex Offender or Offender, but I want everyone to realize that there is little to distinguish between these terms or individuals assigned them”. (Not an exact quote but pretty close). I saw the heads of all in attendance nod in approval. My hand went up fast and I interrupted the speaker.
I shared there is a clear difference between the terms he used and to mix them with no concern, either means he has no idea what the difference is or is ok with sharing incorrect information. The HR person needs to understand where the difference is and what is needed, if anything, to protect the company they work for.
The speaker spent the next few minutes trying to get back on what his comment track was and I kept raising my hand and correcting his misinformation. He finally said Lets take a 10 minute break and reconvene. As I stood up I was surrounded by about 15 HR reps who wanted to hear what was missing from the lecturers perspective. I spent the 10 minutes and a few more sharing/answering questions. When the lecturer returned he started with I was correct. The difference needs to evaluated by each individual company.
If I were not present how many incorrect lessons would have been “learned”? Propagated? How many company policies would have been put into place based on the wrong information? The Language Project focus on words can hurt deeply is well founded.
Al,
I’m curious if that presenter updated his lecture at later appearances. If not, the concerns in your concluding paragraph remain.
I do not identify as a sex offender…the State and Federal governments classified me as such against my will.
I resent the term “sex offender” because it is in the present tense. I was once convicted for possession of CP, but I am not currently a sex offender. The language project is correct in that terminology creates perceptions. I noticed they still used the term sex offender. I think I’ll send them a courteous email.
Veritas.
They can call me everything but a child of God. I want relief not altered euphemisms.
JoelM, we are all creations of God. We do not become children of God until we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. We have to be ready to justify ourselves on judgment day if we have failed to do that when we had the opportunity. I would be offended if someone told me that I was not a child of God. We have many politicians today who will be in shock when they find out that they are not who they think they are.