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Stigma in Criminal Justice

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Don't Say 'Inmate': NY Law Changes Term For Those Housed In State Prisons Don't Say 'Inmate': NY Law Changes Term For Those Housed In State Prisons
Don't Say 'Inmate': NY Law Changes Term For Those Housed In State Prisons Convicted criminals who spend time in New York prisons will no longer be officially referred to as “inmates.” Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law Monday, Aug. 8, that replaces the word “inmate” in state law with “incarcerated individual.” The governor’s office said the language change is meant to reduce stigma against people involved in the criminal justice system and eliminate barriers to opportunities that they face. “Individuals impacted by the criminal justice system have long noted that terms such as felon, inmate, prisoner, and convict dehumanize individuals and perpetuate the idea th…

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by Michael Mashburn