Incarceration and the Health of Older Black Women and Men

Abstract Background As more people imagine a world without prisons, we must sharpen ourunderstanding of the racialized gendered harm of carceral systems and the care needsof formerly incarcerated older Black adults, for whom harms may be particularlysevere. This study examines associations between incarceration, health, and copingresources among a nationally representative sample of older Black women and men. Methods Data are from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study.Using logistic regression, we examined whether the odds of having high levels ofcoping resources or experiencing any health conditions differed between neverincarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. Results Formerly incarcerated older Black women had worse health outcomes thannever-incarcerated older Black women, including higher odds of having depressivesymptoms, limitations to activities of daily living, a heart condition, and a psychiatricdisorder. Health outcomes did not differ by incarceration status for older Black men, butcoping resources did. Conclusion Future public health research, practice, and policy on incarceration andhealth need to include an intersectional analysis of racism, sexism, and ageism.