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01-02-2022

The Stigma of Criminal Legal Involvement and Health: a Conceptual Framework

Authors: Benjamin A. Howell, Valerie A. Earnshaw, Marisol Garcia, Andrew Taylor, Karin Martin, Aaron D. Fox

Published in: Journal of Urban Health | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

The USA incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. Exposure to the criminal legal system has been associated with a myriad of health outcomes but less is understood about what drives these associations. We argue that stigma due to criminal legal involvement, what we call criminal legal stigma, likely has a larger role in the association between incarceration and negative health outcomes than has been previously appreciated. There is limited research on the impact on health of criminal legal stigma despite abundant research on its negative social consequences. In this paper, we describe a conceptual framework of the health effects of criminal legal stigma drawing on previous research of criminal legal stigma and advances in other areas of stigma research. We outline key concepts related to stigma mechanisms, how they function at structural and individual levels, and how they might cause health outcomes. Finally, we identify potential areas for future research and opportunities for clinical interventions to remediate negative effects of stigma.

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Title: The Stigma of Criminal Legal Involvement and Health: a Conceptual Framework
Authors: Benjamin A. Howell
Valerie A. Earnshaw
Marisol Garcia
Andrew Taylor
Karin Martin
Aaron D. Fox
Publication date: 01-02-2022
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Urban Health / Issue 1/2022
Print ISSN: 1099-3460
Electronic ISSN: 1468-2869
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-021-00599-y

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The Stigma of Criminal Legal Involvement and Health: a Conceptual Framework

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