The More You Have, The More You Lose: Criminal Justice Involvement, Ascribed Socioeconomic Status, and Achieved SES

• In Event: Consequences of Incarceration for Economic Stability Across the Life Course

Abstract

This study examined the association between involvement in the criminal justice system and achieved socioeconomic status (SES), as well as the moderating effects of one’s ascribed SES. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, results showed a nonlinear relationship between criminal justice involvement and achieved SES, such that deeper involvement led to increasingly negative consequences on achieved SES. Furthermore, significant interactions with ascribed SES suggested that those coming from the highest socioeconomic backgrounds were not ‘protected’ from involvement in the criminal justice system, but instead experienced the greatest decrease in achieved SES relative to where they started. Moreover, the effect of criminal justice involvement for those from below average ascribed SES was not significant, further exacerbating the issue of inequality in society.

Authors

• Christopher R. Dennison, Bowling Green State University

• Stephen Demuth, Bowling Green State University