In the Wind: Low-level Criminal Justice Contact & Housing Instability

• In Event: Causes and Consequences of Inequality Among Formerly Incarcerated

Abstract

Empirical evidence has shown that the prison boom has an appreciable effect on the livelihoods of those incarcerated. Imprisonment, in conjunction with other economic factors, impacts the ability of the formerly incarcerated to procure and sustain housing. The impact on those with minor forms of criminal justice contact, in particular an arrest, conviction or jail stay, could parallel the experience of the formerly incarcerated. Similar to prison, an arrest or jail stay can incapacitate an individual, making it difficult to pay rent. Additionally, criminal record checks have become a mainstay of rental applications, barring individuals from renting on the basis of an arrest or misdemeanor drug conviction. Using ten waves of the NLSY97, I investigate the effect a misdemeanor arrest, charge, conviction or jail sentence on an individual’s ability to maintain or procure housing after their release. Initial results show detrimental effects on housing situations, suggesting that even an arrest or jail stay could jeopardize stability.

Author

• April Fernandes, North Carolina State University