Heath Care Disparities among Ethnic Minorities with Histories in the Justice Systems

• In Event: Race, Crime & Criminal Justice

Abstract

In the general population, ethnic minorities experience a range of health care disparities. These include a lack of health insurance, lack of access to health care, lack of knowledge about existing health services, mis/under-diagnoses, poor diet and exercise, absence of recreational spaces, and poorly developed cultural sensitivity or discrimination among health care providers. The justice systems are disproportionately comprised of ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics. Health care provision, especially mental health, is sorely lacking within the justice systems, contributing to recidivism. Given these considerations, this study aims to investigate the extent that ethnic minorities with histories in the justice systems report health care disparities. This paper addresses the overall aims, methodology, and preliminary findings of the study. The paper is based on firsthand ethnographic data collected in South Los Angeles from participants at a community based organization (n=50) that is designed to improve the lives of ex-felons, parolees, and emerging adults who are in the process of leaving the gang life behind them. Justice systems involvement was defined as having ever been arrested. Most of the participants (n=48) were either African American or Latino/Hispanic. Results reveal that such individuals report a significant range of health care disparities.

Authors

• Amy Balian, California State University, Los Angeles

• Bill Sanders, California State University, Los Angeles