What is someone called when they are released from jail?
Asked by: Vergie Graham | Last update: February 8, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (51 votes)
Someone released from jail is often called an ex-offender, formerly incarcerated person, or ex-prisoner, with parolee used if they are released conditionally under supervision; more sensitive or modern terms emphasize their current status, like a person with a justice history, while colloquialisms like "ex-con" carry stigma.
What do you call a person released from jail?
If released from jail on parole you can say= “ parolee ” I prefer “ former inmate ” or “ex-prisoner” if you are being sensitive (like if describing the status of someone you know or someone's friend or relative) or talking to a group of strangers.
What is the term for being released from jail?
Parole is not an additional sentence; rather it is a system that allows inmates to finish their original sentence outside of prison under supervision. In some jurisdictions in the United States, people may shorten their time on parole through earned compliance credits.
What do you call a person who got out of jail?
Ex-offender, Ex-con, Ex-Offender, Ex-Prisoner. Person or individual with prior justice system involvement; Person or individual previously incarcerated; Person or individual with justice history. Parolee, Probationer, Detainee.
What does parole mean?
Parole is the conditional release of prisoners before the full completion of their sentence. The paroled prisoners, or parolees, are supervised by parole officers and who check if the parolee is following the terms/conditions of their parole.
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What is another word for parole?
[puh-rohl] / pəˈroʊl / VERB. discharge. let out liberate pardon.
What are the three types of parole?
The three main types of parole are Discretionary Parole (board decides release), Mandatory Release/Supervision (automatic release after time served plus good time), and sometimes Expiatory Parole, which is a lesser-known, technically distinct release for specific circumstances, though many jurisdictions focus on the first two, with variations like day parole or post-release supervision. Discretionary release relies on a parole board's judgment, while mandatory release happens by law once sentence time equals sentence length, both involving community supervision.
What is the word for releasing prisoners?
Parole is the term used to describe offenders that have been incarcerated in a prison facility and released prior to the court imposed expiration date. Parolees serve their time in the community and can be returned to prison for violating any of the conditions of parole imposed by the Board of Parole Commissioners.
What is a better word for a felon?
There are better alternatives—alternatives that center a person's humanity first and foremost. These include “person who was convicted of a crime,” “person who is incarcerated,” “person convicted of a felony,” and “person seeking lawful status.” These words and phrases matter.
What does "j cat" mean in jail?
J-Cat. A disruptive inmate who causes disorder through highly irregular behavior in a jail module or prison yard, typically associated with those with drug or mental health issues.
What is another word for being released?
Synonyms for "to be released" vary by context but often include set free, liberated, discharged, issued, or published, depending on if you mean freeing a person, letting something go, or making something public. Other strong synonyms are emancipated, unbound, unchained, delivered, or let go, while for products/media, words like launched, distributed, or made public work well.
What do you call someone who escapes from jail?
A fugitive or runaway is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from jail, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals.
What is the term for release from jail?
parole. If you're in prison, after serving a few years you might be let out on parole, a promise to be good and check in regularly.
Is felon a bad word?
Words to be avoided include offender, inmate, felon, criminal, convict, prisoner, and delinquent. Also, ex-offender, ex-con, ex-prisoner, parolee, probationer, and detainee.
What is a former prisoner?
Ex-prisoners refer to individuals who have been released from incarceration and often face significant social disadvantages, including vulnerability to homelessness and a heightened risk of reoffending.
What is a fancy word for reoffend?
A fancy word for reoffend, especially in a criminal or behavioral context, is recidivism (the act) or recidivist (the person), meaning a relapse into crime or undesirable behavior after punishment or treatment. Other sophisticated terms include relapse, backsliding, regression, or retrogression, often used in psychiatry or psychology.
What is a professional word for former?
Some common synonyms of former are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, preceding, previous, and prior.
What is a felony in slang?
Slang Meanings
A big deal or serious problem, often used in a casual context. Getting caught with drugs is a felony, dude, you don't want to mess with that. Referring to someone's trouble with the law, often humorously. He's got a felony on his record but still thinks he can get away with anything.
What is the formal word for release?
Liberate and emancipate, more formal synonyms for release and free, also suggest action intended to be helpful.
What do you call people who just got out of jail?
Someone just released from jail can be called a returning citizen, formerly incarcerated person, ex-con, or ex-offender, with terms like "returning citizen" being preferred for positive reintegration and "ex-con" being a common but stigmatizing label, while simply saying they are "fresh out" or "just released" is descriptive and less labeling.
What words mean to release from captivity?
verb
- free.
- liberate.
- release.
- rescue.
- emancipate.
- enfranchise.
- save.
- loosen.
Which of the following are types of releases?
Types of Release
- Parole. "Parole" means the release of a prisoner to the community by the Board of Parole (BOP) prior to the expiration of the offender's sentence. ...
- Probation. ...
- Determinate Release. ...
- Community Corrections. ...
- Community Supervision for Life. ...
- Mandatory Reentry Supervision.
What is a person called when they are on probation?
A probationer is an individual who is under a probationary status. This term can refer to: A person released from incarceration who is serving a probation period instead of prison time.
What is parole after jail?
Probation is a period of supervision in the community imposed by the court as an alternative to imprisonment. Parole is the release of a prisoner to supervision in the community after he/she has completed a part of his/her sentence in an institution.