Incarceration as a fundamental social cause of health inequalities: jails, prisons and vulnerability to Covid-19

Although research has established the disproportionate health burdens among incarcerated persons, the literature has yet to identify a theoretical framework for outlining the harms of incarceration associated with pandemics. We advance the literature theoretically by arguing two points. First, we as...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Novisky, Meghan A. (Author) ; Nowotny, Kathryn M. (Author) ; Jackson, Dylan B. (Author) ; Testa, Alexander (Author) ; Vaughn, Michael G. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2021
In: The British journal of criminology
Year: 2021, Volume: 61, Issue: 6, Pages: 1630-1646
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:Although research has established the disproportionate health burdens among incarcerated persons, the literature has yet to identify a theoretical framework for outlining the harms of incarceration associated with pandemics. We advance the literature theoretically by arguing two points. First, we assert that incarceration is a potent structural driver of health inequalities that must be considered as a fundamental social cause of disease. To underscore this point, we review how incarceration meets each of the four fundamental social cause criteria originally proposed by Link and Phelan. Second, given that incarceration is a fundamental social cause of disease, both currently and formerly incarcerated populations are likely to face heightened vulnerabilities to pandemics, including COVID-19, further exacerbating health disparities among incarceration-exposed groups.
ISSN:1464-3529
DOI:10.1093/bjc/azab023