Criminal justice system involvement and food insufficiency: findings from the 2018 New York City Community Health Survey

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether personal and family history of criminal justice (CRJ) involvement is related to food insufficiency.

Methods: Data are from the 2018 New York City Community Health Survey (n = 9580). Cross-sectional multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the association between CRJ involvement and food insufficiency.

Results: Personal (relative risk ratio= 2.019, 95% confidence interval = 1.363, 2.994) and family history (relative risk ratios = 1.447, 95% confidence interval = 1.014, 2.066) of CRJ involvement is associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing moderate-to-severe food insufficiency, net of covariate for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Conclusion: Developing interventions such as expanding access to nutrition assistance programs for criminal justice involved populations may yield benefits for alleviating food insufficiency and promoting greater health equity.

Keywords: Criminal justice involvement; Food insecurity; Health; Incarceration.