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Local law · Int 0151-2024

The terms “inmate,” “prisoner,” and “incarcerated individual” and other similar terminology as used therein

Official titleShow

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, the administrative code of the city of New York, the New York city plumbing code, and the New York city building code, in relation to the terms “inmate,” “prisoner,” and “incarcerated individual” and other similar terminology as used therein

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Filed at end of sessionLatest action Dec 31, 2025

New York City Council

Sponsor

Tiffany L. Cabán

Council Member, District 22 · Democratic

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Summary

This bill would replace the terms “inmate” and “prisoner,” as well as “incarcerated individual,” with person-first language (PFL) such as “persons incarcerated” and “persons in custody” throughout the City Charter, the Administrative Code, the Plumbing Code, and the Building Code. PFL is a linguistic prescription that emphasizes personhood over status-saturated identifiers. This law would seek to eliminate conscious and subconscious dehumanization associated with the terms “inmate” and “prisoner.” Notably, this is a stylistic modification that does not impact the substance of modified sections.

Summary from NYC Council (Legistar). How we handle summaries

From the NYC Council's legislative record (Legistar) and official rosters. This record was last updated Sep 7, 2026. About our data

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Where it stands

The session ended before it was voted on. It was not defeated; it simply ran out of time, which is what happens to most legislation. It would have to be reintroduced.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted
Filed at end of session

Committee

Committee on Criminal Justice

Cosponsors

Shahana K. Hanif, Lincoln Restler and 4 others

Cosponsors in the order the New York City Council lists them.

  • Democratic5

Party is shown for the 5 cosponsors who are on Agora.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Names without a link are in the official record but not on Agora.

Full history

  1. Dec 31, 2025

    Filed

    This Introduction was Filed (End of Session)

    NYC Council

  2. Sep 27, 2024

    Hearing held

    This Introduction was Hearing Held by Committee

    Committee on Criminal Justice

  3. Sep 27, 2024

    Held over

    This Introduction was Laid Over by Committee

    Committee on Criminal Justice

  4. Feb 28, 2024

    Introduced

    This Introduction was Introduced by Council

    NYC Council

  5. Feb 28, 2024

    Referred to committee

    This Introduction was Referred to Comm by Council to the Committee on Criminal Justice

    NYC Council