CONTACT NARSOL:  communications@narsol.org

APPEAL FOR ETHICAL REPORTING

VOCABULARY

Pedophile: not a synonym for child molester; not a legal term but rather a medical one; avoid using because virtually never will the medical diagnosis of an individual be known.

Sex offender: not a synonym for a person listed on a sexual offense registry; avoid using as very few on a registry are currently committing sexual crimes; the vast majority of those who are committing them have never been charged, convicted, or registered.

Person-first language: use “a person charged with child molestation” or “a man who is required to registry as a sexual offender” or “who is on Ohio’s sexual offense registry.”

LINKS

NARSOL’S POSITION ON: