Barriers and Pathways to Healthcare for Justice-Involved Community Members

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Individuals who are directly involved in the criminal justice system and indirectly impacted, such as residents of high-crime areas, often face substantial challenges in accessing healthcare resources. This proves to be challenging as this demographic is also disproportionally affected by increased rates of physical and mental health problems. This panel explores the utilization of healthcare across three interconnected populations: residents of high-crime communities, police-involved community members experiencing mental health crises, and those who have been incarcerated. The first paper examines mental health service needs among residents living in high-crime areas, highlighting barriers to accessing treatment. The second paper discusses the role of mental health professionals complementing police officers on calls for service. This work will highlight the role of mental health professional during crisis response as well as to what extent their presence impacts outcomes during police-encounters. Finally, the third paper investigates healthcare utilization among formerly incarcerated individuals, emphasizing the impact of incarceration on unmet medical needs and use of emergency services. Together, these studies provide a comprehensive discussion on the systemic challenges in healthcare access for justice-involved community members as well as offer policy recommendations for improving the delivery of support services and health outcomes.

Sub Unit

• Area VII. Non-Criminal Justice Responses to Crime & Delinquency / 62. Public Health

Individual Presentations

• “Why don’t people with mental health problems seek treatment?”: A Study of Residents of Crime Hot Spots in Baltimore - Clair V. Uding, University of Wyoming; Lauren Porter, University of Maryland, College Park; Haley Moon, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• The Impact of Mental Health Professionals During Police Calls for Service in Fort Collins, Colorado - Haley Moon, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Clair V. Uding, University of Wyoming; Lauren Porter, University of Maryland, College Park

• Incarceration and Inequality in Healthcare Utilization - Lauren Porter, University of Maryland, College Park; Alex Testa, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Discussant

• Alex Testa, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Organized by a Division or external group?

Division of Health and Disability Criminology (DHDC)