Addressing Criminal Legal System Health Inequities Through Redirection

Bibliographic Data

ID21650459
AuthorsNoah Painter‐davi (0000-0002-2149-0681, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, corresponding author), J Page-Reeves (0000-0001-9401-3248, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA), Matthew E Borrego (0000-0002-7068-8029, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA), Theresa Cruz (0000-0001-8208-0793, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA), Theresa H Cruz (0000-0001-6279-7463, University of New Mexico), Sarah Leiter (0000-0002-7154-3403, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA), Kimberly R Huyser (0000-0003-3700-0621, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), Kimberly Huyser (The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), Linda Freeman (Independent researcher)
Year2025
Volume52
Issue1_suppl
Pages37S-44S
Publication date2025-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Education & Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1090-1981 • E-ISSN: 1552-6127
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10901981251345407
PMID40698528
OpenAlexW4412592726
LanguageEN
References cited20

The criminal legal system and youth delinquent systems (CL/DS) are increasingly recognized as a primary sources of racial/ethnic inequity (REI) in health. Research funding institutions are beginning to focus on the CL/DS as a social determinant of health, some CL/DS officials are centering equity as a core concern, and some problematic CL/DS practices are being rolled back. However, the impact of such efforts may be limited because they typically focus on the most visible manifestations of inequity but often fail to address root causes and complex system dynamics. More meaningfully reducing CL/DS-linked health inequities requires a better understanding of their complexity and barriers to change. Preparatory work is needed to develop appropriate information, communication strategies, and collaborative partnerships. To support these arguments, we offer an evaluation of our ongoing qualitative and quantitative research in New Mexico, which focuses on practices that redirect individuals from typical CL/DS practices in ways that minimize CL/DS involvement and its consequences. We review the sources of REI in CL/DS redirection practices, discuss how increased collaboration between public health and public safety agencies may impact REI, describe how differences in values, priorities, and strategies toward issues of equity pose barriers to REI reduction efforts, and discuss important building blocks for reducing siloing and working toward greater health equity through redirection from the CL/DS

Ethnic group · Focus group · Health equity · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Social determinants of health · Sociology · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Health disparities and outcomes · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Public Health Policies and Education

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