Correctional officers address incarcerated persons with dignifying language but often revert to stigmatizing labels in private staff discussions

Language profoundly shapes perceptions, particularly within the confines of prisons. This study, which analyzed data from the Scandinavian Prison Project at the State Correctional Institution in Chester, Pennsylvania, examines how correctional staff language affects the dignity of incarcerated individuals and influences reform initiatives. While a strong movement advocates for “person-first language” (e.g., “people formerly in prison”) to combat stigma, official agencies sometimes retain older, derogatory terms. These terms are not merely insults; they actively perpetuate an “us versus them” mindset, thereby hindering efforts to foster a more humane environment. This research specifically investigated everyday conversations, revealing that although officers employ humanizing language directly with incarcerated people, they frequently revert to terms like “inmate” when discussing them amongst colleagues. This indicates a dual linguistic approach— professional in public, casual in private. Furthermore, the study uncovered that correctional officers championing reform often encounter linguistic stigma from their peers, who use disparaging labels such as “inmate-lover” or “hug-a-thug.” The study concludes that language fundamentally molds perceptions and can either advance or impede meaningful prison reform and the dignity of everyone involved.

The significance of this research lies in its deep dive into the nuanced, often unexamined, role of language within correctional facilities, revealing it as a critical yet frequently overlooked barrier to transforming the prison environment. The study highlights that the real-world impact comes from the informal, everyday language used by staff. It demonstrates that even reform-minded correctional officers grapple with a “front stage” and “back stage” linguistic approach, using dignifying terms directly with incarcerated individuals while reverting to stigmatizing labels in private staff conversations. More profoundly, the research uncovers the pervasive linguistic stigma faced by correctional staff themselves. This internal linguistic policing not only undermines efforts to humanize incarcerated individuals but also creates significant cultural resistance to implementing progressive reforms.

By exposing how language acts as a powerful tool for maintaining professional boundaries, reinforcing existing hierarchies, and even sabotaging genuine attempts at change, this study offers crucial insights for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates. It underscores that true reform requires not just changes in official policy but a profound shift in the linguistic landscape and culture within prisons, fostering an environment where dignity is consistently affirmed for everyone and where empathy is not penalized but encouraged. Understanding these linguistic dynamics is essential for any meaningful effort to create a more humane, rehabilitative, and effective justice system.

Authors: Veronica L. Horowitz (University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Department of Sociology and Criminology), Steven L. Chanenson (Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law), Christopher Uggen (University of Minnesota, Department of Sociology), Hannah Nario-Lopez (University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Department of Sociology and Criminology | University of the Philippines Diliman, Department of Sociology | University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Department of Sociology and Criminology), Synøve N. Andersen (University of Oslo, Department of Sociology and Human Geography), and Jordan M. Hyatt (Drexel University, Department of Criminology and Justice Studies)

Read the full paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175606162500031X

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