A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, the administrative code of the city of New York, the New York city plumbing code, and the New York city building code, in relation to the terms “inmate,” “prisoner,” and “incarcerated individual” and other similar terminology as used therein

Summary

This bill would replace the terms “inmate” and “prisoner,” as well as “incarcerated individual,” with person-first language (PFL) such as “persons incarcerated” and “persons in custody” throughout the City Charter, the Administrative Code, the Plumbing Code, and the Building Code. PFL is a linguistic prescription that emphasizes personhood over status-saturated identifiers. This law would seek to eliminate conscious and subconscious dehumanization associated with the terms “inmate” and “prisoner.” Notably, this is a stylistic modification that does not impact the substance of modified sections.

Official summary of legislation · NYC Council