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Former convict, ex-convict

26.09.2021

Use

Former convict, ex-convict, parolee, person who has served time

Avoid

Zek, jailbird

The term “Zek” and its derivatives have taken on a negative color over the years, although from the beginning it was an abbreviation used in Soviet times to refer to convicts, especially those serving time in forced labour camps.

“Convict” and “prisoner” are words that apply to various aspects of the restriction of personal liberty. So, in theory, they can be used, but it is better to clarify the details.

If we are talking about a person who has served their term and paid their dues to society, it is usually unnecessary to use terms such as “ex-convict”, because if a person has already appeared in court and served a sentence, their past should be behind them. Of course, there may be some exceptions, such as when a person is working on a journalistic article about the lives of people who have been behind bars.

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