Sheriff: Jail 'Inmates' Will Now Be Called 'Residents'

A sheriff in Wisconsin says he will stop referring to people in his custody as inmates. Marking a "change in philosophy" for the Dane County Sheriff's Office, staff will no longer refer to those in jail as inmates and will instead call them residents or "those within our care," the sheriff announced Monday (article available here).

The language change is a "small step" to reduce those barriers, and hopefully help reduce recidivism, Barrett said. When asked how one word could help decrease recidivism, Barrett said the language can help change how incarcerated people view themselves and how society views them.