Comment by simplicio
3 years ago
The no ID thing is interesting. The article mentions that as a major issue as well. Seems like it'd be a pretty cheap intervention to just issue all out-going prisoners a gov't photo ID on their release.
3 years ago
The no ID thing is interesting. The article mentions that as a major issue as well. Seems like it'd be a pretty cheap intervention to just issue all out-going prisoners a gov't photo ID on their release.
It is so terribly insane that this isn't done. You are being held by the state. The state has elevated access to state services. How easy would it be for them to hook into the state ID/DMV system and print you a state ID or driver's license before you leave?
If they can't verify your identity while you are in prison, then what are you even doing there?
All they did before I left prison was try to sign me up for Medicaid (I'm not elligible because I'm an illegal immigrant).
They did kindly let me keep my prison ID when I left which has my photo on it and says IN CUSTODY in giant letters. (they used to say INMATE but that word has gone out of fashion and they couldn't think of another word to use on the badges)
> they used to say INMATE but that word has gone out of fashion
Is this due to some kind of “political correctness” thing coming from well meaning people outside the system that the system is pleased to accommodate for easy brownie points, or are there distinct-enough tiers of people inside the system that “inmate” isn’t useful?
I feel like it grew from within the system (where change isn't possible) until it was picked up by those outside the system who would articulate the change.
I was mostly locked up in pre-trial detention and "inmate" has a serious connotation of conviction behind it, so it was considered especially ugly and demeaning there, where the acceptable term is "detainee."
Here are some quick reads on the issue:
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/12/i-am-not-your-...
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/12/what-words-we-...