The inane inmate debate: Letters to the Editor July 22, 2026

So now the city Board of Correction wants to ban the word “inmate” in favor of “people with custody” (“Out with ‘inmate,’ ” July 20)?My, my: We certainly wouldn’t want to shame any of the fine thieves, rapists or murderers in prison now, would we? One of the biggest problems with society today is that shame doesn’t exist anymore.J.CesareCopiagueSince New York state has basically expunged the biased terms “mother” and “father” from its legal language, it’s great to know the word “inmate” will also be thrown onto the scrap heap of history.

It turns out being called an inmate is just as offensive as being called a mother or father.Schellie HaganBrooklynMany New York City school kids can’t read and do simple math, illegal prescription drugs are openly sold on the streets, a squalid tent city grows at the foot of one of our most popular tourist attractions — but our city officials spend time worrying about calling inmates “inmates.”Jake McNicholasWhitestoneWe are watching George Orwell’s “1984” actually play out.Newspeak has been the agenda of these communist and socialist Democrats.Sure, “inmate” is a very harsh word; let’s call these “people in custody” better, clearer names so we can show them the proper respect.

Here’s a few suggestions for administering of law and order: murderers, rapists, drug and human traffickers, thieves, abusers and sexual predators.Just last week, Mayor Mamdani had a lovely watch party with these vile criminals at Rikers Island.Last year, Democrats refused to stand for the families of victims of violent crime during the president’s State of the Union address.

To them, war is peace, and hate is love.Linda GrecoCedar Grove, NJThe mayor’s World Cup watch party at Rikers Island was appalling, and Gov.Hochul’s 2022 press release about “individuals impacted by the criminal-justice system” being “stigmatized” by “terms such as felon, inmate,” etc.

is an absolute low....