Diversity and Complexity in Incarcerated Individuals' Perceptions of Labels

• In Event: Living and Working Inside U.S. Prisons & Jails

Abstract

Per labelling theory (Becker, 1963), when a person is labelled, society treats that person according to their label and the labelled person often internalizes this label and accepts it. In recognition of the harm and stigmatization that can come from such labels, many researchers, policy-makers, frontline staff, and advocacy groups have re-evaluated the terminology they use when referring to people involved in the criminal legal system. However, there seems to be no general consensus among researchers, policy-makers, activists, prison staff, or incarcerated individuals themselves on what terminology should be used. To explore this divide over preferred terminology, we use semi-structured interview data from 336 incarcerated individuals and 105 staff across 8 prisons in 4 states. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review of journal articles published in the past 5 years to learn how researchers using prison data refer to incarcerated individuals in their published work. This project’s findings have implications for the terminology that researchers, policy-makers, frontline staff, and advocacy groups use when referring to individuals who are incarcerated. This project also shows the importance of asking those directly impacted what their preferences are and how incarcerated individuals are not a monolith.

Authors

• Sydney Ingel, George Mason University

• Bryce Kushmerick-McCune, Sam Houston State University

• Wyatt Brown, Sam Houston State University

• Danielle S. Rudes, Sam Houston State University