• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Dane County Sheriff: Inmates Will Now Be Called ‘Residents’

Kalvin Barrett

Sheriff Kalvin Barrett (Dane County Sheriff's Office)

August 16, 2021
Wisconsin Right NowbyWisconsin Right Now
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

The Dane County Sheriff announced that inmates in the Dane County Jail will now be referred to as “residents,” in an attempt to use language that “reflects our society’s values.”

“We see it as a small step toward humanizing,” Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a news conference.

“I’ve learned a new perspective,” he announced. “We will no longer refer to those in our care of the Dane County Jail as inmates but we will use a more humanizing term like resident or those within our care. This change in language is a way to humanize those incarcerated in our Dane County Jail.”

Barrett was appointed Dane County Sheriff by Gov. Tony Evers. The appointment fills a vacancy created by Sheriff David J. Mahoney’s resignation, effective May 8, 2021. Barrett will complete the remainder of the term which ends January 2, 2023. Barrett served as Dane County Deputy Sheriff from 2009 to 2011, and as an officer with the Sun Prairie Police Department from 2011 to 2016. He is currently a law enforcement officer at Wisconsin State Fair Park and teaches law enforcement and criminal justice at Madison College where he is the faculty director of the criminal justice studies program.

“To call them residents and not inmates is a step forward,” said Rep. Sheila Stubbs, a Democrat and county supervisor, also speaking at the news conference. She said it “is critical that we recognize people as decent people and as citizens.”

“It’s official. I have announced it to our Sheriff’s Office,” said Barrett.

He said that he gathered “multiple different perspectives” before making the change, including people currently incarcerated. Barrett referred to the change as the implementation of “new values” that will create a “rehabilitative environment.”

Barrett said he believed not using the term inmates was an example of how Dane County is a national leader on “progressive criminal justice reform.” He said he was in contact with advocacy groups to make sure the Sheriff’s Department is using proper language that will help inmates “reintegrate” into society.

“I had numerous conversations with those who have been incarcerated; they encouraged me to no longer use the term inmate but instead to use resident,” said Barrett.

He said the word inmate causes “stigma.” He also opposed the terms convict, offender and prisoner.

“Help us reform our criminal justice system,” he said.

“This will allow us to move toward a 21st century policing mindset in which we treat everyone within our community with dignity, respect and humanity,” said Barrett. He called it “normalizing language.”


Note: This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Right Now.


Law Officer comment: We couldn’t help but notice that Sheriff Barrett said his “residents” were “incarcerated.” Perhaps if he’s choosing to refer to inmates as residents, he should say they are “in time out,” not incarcerated. 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Dane CountyDane County Sheriff's OfficeSheriff Kalvin Barrettwisconsin
Wisconsin Right Now

Wisconsin Right Now

Wisconsin Right Now is a Wisconsin-focused news platform founded in 2020 that offers breaking news and some opinion, with an emphasis on Wisconsin. We are self-funded and, thus, an independent voice. Our mission is to give you the news you won’t see elsewhere.

Related Posts

Chad T. Richards

College wrestler identified as alleged killer of female gymnast in Wisconsin

September 4, 2024
Kara Welsh

College gymnast shot and killed near Wisconsin campus

September 2, 2024
Milwaukee Mile

The National Police Association #31 Chevy to Display Picture of Missing Child at the Sprecher 150 at The Milwaukee Mile

August 23, 2024
Milwaukee felon

Milwaukee Felon Attacks Brookfield Officer, Drags Him With Car in Mall Parking Lot, Police Say

May 30, 2024
Wisconsin sexual assault case

Wisconsin sexual assault case demonstrates failure of Biden’s open border policy, state rep. says

May 28, 2024
Chris Larson

‘Kill With Disregard & Glee’: Wisconsin State Sen. Chris Larson Slammed for ‘Dangerous Anti-Police Rhetoric’ on Senate Floor

May 17, 2024
Load More

Latest Articles

Explosion at L.A. Sheriff Training Center Kills Three Deputies

July 18, 2025

Is Behavioral Enforcement A Path To Safer Roadways?

July 16, 2025

I’m Not Broken, I’m Dangerous

July 4, 2025

The Problem with Promotions

June 20, 2025
Melissa Hortman

Former Minnesota House Speaker Assassinated in Attack on Multiple Lawmakers

June 14, 2025

Sheriff: If You Throw a Brick At Our Deputy, ‘We Will Kill You, Graveyard Dead’

June 13, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com