formerly incarcerated
Previously behind bars
Formerly incarcerated describes someone who was once imprisoned but has since been released.
The term emerged as a more neutral alternative to labels like "ex-con" or "felon," which carry stigma and reduce a person to their criminal history: programs that help formerly incarcerated people find employment.
The phrasing emphasizes that incarceration is past, not a permanent identity.
- ex-convictPerson previously incarcerated
- paroleeConditionally freed prisoner
- releasedSet free from confinement
- getting outAct of leaving
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
inmate · felon · jail · prison · probation · reentry · rehabilitation · record · sentence · time served · freedom · second chance · pardon · clean slate · fresh start · halfway house · ankle monitor · mugshot
- marginalized groupsminorities, ethnic minorities, people of color, disabled, LGBTQ
- Vulnerable Groupshomeless youth, orphans, refugees, disabled people, elderly poor
- inclusive languagegender-neutral, they/them, singular they, preferred pronouns, pronouns
formerly incarceratedimprisoned
Held in custody
behind bars · locked up · in prison · serving time · incarcerated
former, formerly, incarcerate, incarcerated, incarceration, incarcerating