Sincerity and epistemic carcerality

This article examines the stigma of the ‘manipulative inmate’ as a form of epistemic injustice that discredits the testimony of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. Drawing on Miranda Fricker’s concept of testimonial injustice and correctional-training literature, we argue that the stigma undermines their capacity for sincerity, reinforcing a rigged economy of credibility. We explore moral and epistemic dimensions of sincerity, distinguishing ‘inhuman’ and ‘human’ applications of it in carceral settings, and highlight how the latter challenges carceral norms. Through two case studies, we illustrate how human sincerity offers a method for resisting the epistemic injustice embedded in prison and parole systems.