As of February 2 2026 this post has been updated with new terms used on Rise and Reform.

Hi all! 

This week, I will be defining some crucial terms and phrases that I’ve referenced already, and will be referencing throughout my blog. 

1. Recidivism 

Recidivism refers to the rate at which someone is likely to reoffend after being released from prison. So, if I say that Ontario has an average recidivism rate of 22.6 per cent to 37 per cent, that means inmates are 22.6 per cent to 37 per cent likely to reoffend.

2. Inquest 

Inquest refers to an inquiry to obtain an investigation or facts on a specific incident. In my previous post I talked about Yusuf Faqiri fighting to obtain an inquiry into Soleiman Faqiri’s death. This means they fought for an investigation to determine the cause of death, who was responsible, and ultimately rule Soleiman’s death a homicide. 

3. Inmate 

Inmate refers to a person who has been confined in prison or jail for any period of time. 

4. Prison and Jail

Though sometimes interchangeable, prison typically applies to long term facilities for people who have been found guilty of a crime. Jail typically applies to municipal facilities for people who have been recently arrested or are awaiting trial.

5. Search warrant

A court order authorizing law enforcement to search a defined area for specific evidence. 

6. Trial

A court proceeding to determine if someone accused of a crime is guilty, by means of jury and judge. The accused will usually provide evidence in their defense. 

These are the most common terms you may see in my blog over the next few months. For a full list of terms and definitions, you can find them here. 

Last week, I interviewed Yusuf Faqiri about his brother, Soleiman Faqiri. Soleiman was arrested in December of 2016. He was in jail for 11 days, and it was ordered by a judge that he be sent to a mental health institution instead where he can be properly treated. That never happened. Instead, he was put in solitary confinement, and was then beaten to death. The official inquest ruled it as a homicide, but no one has been held accountable. You can find more on that story here.

There is a vigil being held on December 15th at 6:00 pm. If you want to help Soleiman’s family find justice, you can register for the vigil and show your support here.

UPDATE: 

I’ve learned a little bit more since beginning to write this blog. A new term that I learned about through Amy Ard at Motherhood Beyond Bars is ACE. ACE is an acronym that stands for Adverse Childhood Experience. This term specifically pertains to traumatic experiences that occur in a person’s life between the ages of zero and 17. These events can cause serious stress on your body and mind, however there is help available for people who have had adverse childhood experiences in their lives.

I will be keeping a document of common phrases and terms used on my blog that might not be common knowledge. New posts will be created to keep everyone up to date!