The words we use in written and verbal communications can help people understand and support the changes we are making in our pretrial systems and contribute to meaningful cultural change. Language helps shape our thinking, which affects our decisions and our actions concerning people affected by the criminal legal system.
Research shows that language and framing can reinforce or deflate stereotypes. In this training, we’ll discuss how pretrial system stakeholders, researchers, and community members can learn and use strength-based, people-centered language. We’ll talk about describing pretrial outcomes in positive ways (such as stressing the likelihood of success and not failure) and other ways to help achieve effective, fair, and equitable pretrial justice.
The multitude of perspectives really pushed the “why” of language changes.
This training is designed for pretrial practitioners (judicial officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, pretrial services staff, law enforcement officers, court staff), researchers, technical assistance providers, and community members who want to communicate with pretrial system stakeholders and the public (directly or through the media). It is intended for people with some knowledge of pretrial legal principles and professional standards about best practices.