New York City’s Board of Correction will stop using the word “inmate” in its official rules, replacing it with “person in custody” or “people in custody” after advocates argued the term is dehumanizing. The proposed change swaps the language more than 300 times across the agency’s standards.
Why the Board of Correction Changed the Term
The move aligns with a 2021 commitment to adopt person-first language, removing references to “inmates” in favor of terms like “people in custody.” The board’s proposed rule extends this shift to Chapters 2 and 3 of its Minimum Standards, following earlier updates to Chapter 1.
Criminal justice advocates have long criticized terms such as “inmate,” “felon,” and “prisoner,” arguing they perpetuate stigma. A 2022 New York state law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, already replaced “inmate” with “incarcerated individual” in state statutes.
How Other Agencies Refer to Incarcerated People
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision uses “incarcerated population” in its mission statement. Meanwhile, the New York City Department of Correction, which oversees facilities like Rikers Island, already refers to those in its care as “persons in custody.”
The Board of Correction’s rule change is part of a broader push for gender-inclusive and non-stigmatizing language in criminal justice systems. The agency has not announced a timeline for finalizing the updates.
