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Suspects of a crime are no longer referred to in the media as "SUSPECTS", they are now called "A PERSON OR PERSONS OF INTEREST". I don't understand the change. Why the change and who is responsible for the decision to make this change?

I would imagine that it's to protect innocent folks :

that may have information regarding a crime,

but were not actually involved in it;

that need to be questioned regarding their whereabouts because of logically inferred motives;

that wouldn't want the stigma of being a SUSPECT,

which would naturally lead an outsider to believe that they may be guilty of, or an accomplice to, the crime;

etc.

That's my best guess

and i personally have no problem with the change in the wording,

since being a "suspect" generally means that a person is suspectED of committing a crime.

Lon;1361328 wrote: Why the change and who is responsible for the decision to make this change?


Since you were being potty-trained, Lon. Here's the OED record's earliest example of historical use:1937 K. Kirkness tr. H. Froembgen Kemal Ataturk 162 In the circumstances it was no easy matter for the police to keep a check on all persons of interest.Reporters adopted it as a euphemism for persons not yet charged, so as to avoid defamation lawsuits. The police themselves subsequently picked it into their terminology, the way they keep abusing "at this moment in time", since both sound official despite being gibberish.

We have to be so self conscious of people's rights for fear they'll sue you. We've become "politically correct". We can't use the "N" word, The black word, or the colored word anymore. They've actually removed all the "N" words in Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn, American classics. Next they'll start trying to do the same to the Bible. We've gone mad in our world I tell you. We need to call a spade a spade, or spear chucker or jungle bunny and be done with it. I've gotten used to being referred to as "whitey" LOL

After following local crimes, a"person of interests" usually turn out to be the actual perpetrator of the crime. "Interest" is a gentler word than "suspect". Don't want to scare him/her away.

bobmielke;1361340 wrote: We have to be so self conscious of people's rights for fear they'll sue you. We've become "politically correct". We can't use the "N" word, The black word, or the colored word anymore. They've actually removed all the "N" words in Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn, American classics. Next they'll start trying to do the same to the Bible. We've gone mad in our world I tell you. We need to call a spade a spade, or spear chucker or jungle bunny and be done with it. I've gotten used to being referred to as "whitey" LOLOy vey! Self-conscious or conscientious of rights?

I find that funny we use that expression here as well . And they don't say anymore "a suspect has been questioned". Now it's "a person of interest is 'helping police with their enquiries". It's all over our media .....i kid you not !!! The other day police blocked off a couple of roads because a bloke was running around with a gun ....the media reported he'd "surrendered" to the police ...okay that means they got him yes? .....but "he's helping police with their enquiries" .

What I would like to know is the next time police have wittnesess to a crime will they suddenly be deemed as suspects because they will be "helping police with their enquiries"????? cause I thought that's what wittnesses did. The suspect was arrested.....not helping with enquiries!!!!! that's the wittnesses job ......