TY - JOUR
T1 - Health Implications of Incarceration and Reentry on Returning Citizens
T2 - A Qualitative Examination of Black Men’s Experiences in a Northeastern City
AU - Williams, Jason M.
AU - Wilson, Sean K.
AU - Bergeson, Carrie
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - While a great deal of research captures the lived experiences of Black men as they navigate through the criminal legal system and onto reentry, very little research is grounded in how those processes are directly connected to their health. Although some research argues that mass incarceration is a determinant of poor health, there is a lack of qualitative analyses from the perspective of Black men. Black men face distinct pathways that lead them into the criminal legal system, and these same pathways await them upon reentry. This study aims to examine the health implications associated with incarceration and reentry of Black men. While adopting a phenomenological approach alongside interviews, our findings show both race- and gender-specific outcomes for the men in our sample. For example, health and wellness appears to be a significant theme that governs their (in)ability to matriculate society. Moreover, their contact with the criminal legal system appears to exacerbate health concerns and hindrances toward reentry. Other themes include mental health and the role of masculinity. We conclude with implications on policy and future research.
AB - While a great deal of research captures the lived experiences of Black men as they navigate through the criminal legal system and onto reentry, very little research is grounded in how those processes are directly connected to their health. Although some research argues that mass incarceration is a determinant of poor health, there is a lack of qualitative analyses from the perspective of Black men. Black men face distinct pathways that lead them into the criminal legal system, and these same pathways await them upon reentry. This study aims to examine the health implications associated with incarceration and reentry of Black men. While adopting a phenomenological approach alongside interviews, our findings show both race- and gender-specific outcomes for the men in our sample. For example, health and wellness appears to be a significant theme that governs their (in)ability to matriculate society. Moreover, their contact with the criminal legal system appears to exacerbate health concerns and hindrances toward reentry. Other themes include mental health and the role of masculinity. We conclude with implications on policy and future research.
KW - Black male reentry and incarceration
KW - health-care issues
KW - incarceration and public health
KW - masculinity and health
KW - public health
KW - race and health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089046984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1557988320937211
DO - 10.1177/1557988320937211
M3 - Article
C2 - 32748697
AN - SCOPUS:85089046984
SN - 1557-9883
VL - 14
JO - American Journal of Men's Health
JF - American Journal of Men's Health
IS - 4
ER -