Language Use

Throughout this guide, you will see that we use the word ‘students’ to refer to the incarcerated people who take our courses.  In general, we refer to our students and prospective students as students or people in prison.

Odyssey Beyond Bars uses person-first language that aligns with the language policy of the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison. Visit the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison to learn more.

We explicitly avoid terms like inmate, offender, convict, and felon because these terms are stigmatizing and dehumanizing to students who are trying hard to overcome the stigma of incarceration and transform their lives. In choosing this language, we do not intend to diminish the gravity or impact of the crimes for which our students were convicted. We simply acknowledge our students as human beings and lifelong learners.

To learn more about why language matters, see here.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections refers our students as “People In Our Care” (PIOC) and “clients’ for those who are under supervision. See the message from Secretary Kevin Carr about this language use. We typically do not use the term PIOC (“students” is preferred), but it’s an important term to know when talking with education and security staff within the correctional facilities.