CHCS November 13, 2024
The relationship between health and the criminal legal system is complex. Poor health and limited health care access contribute to incarceration, and involvement with law enforcement, courts, and correctional facilities often worsens individuals’ health. Even brief jail stays can disrupt stability and disconnect people from important care. The criminal legal system disproportionately affects historically marginalized communities. For men born in 2001, one in five Black men will be incarcerated, compared to only one in 20 white men.
Medicaid agencies are critical partners in criminal legal system reform. They can play an important role in both preventing involvement in the criminal legal system and ensuring effective care upon reentry. Historically, Medicaid agencies have operated outside the criminal legal system due to...
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