> Actually, we are referred to as "offenders" because the terms "inmate" and "convict" are considered offensive. Odd. I would think "offender" would be much mo

> Actually, we are referred to as "offenders" because the terms "inmate" and "convict" are considered offensive. Odd. I would think "offender" would be much more offensive than either "convict" or "inmate". The "convict" label may be in dispute in some cases, e.g. pre-trial or with a case undergoing appeal, but it's hard to argue with the fact that someone is (rightly or wrongly) an inmate of a prison. To me, of the three, "offender" sounds the most like a pejorative personal judgement rather than a neutral summation of undisputed facts.