INCARCERATION AND FOOD INSECURITY: What We Know and Where Research Needs to Go

Food insecurity-the limited or uncertain access to adequate food-is a serious public health concern in the United States due to its robust association with adverse mental, physical, and behavioral health outcomes. Every year, tens of millions of Americans experience food insecurity. An emerging body of literature suggests that incarceration is a risk factor for food insecurity across the lifespan. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of research on the nexus between incarceration and food insecurity. First, we briefly discuss research on the causes and consequences of mass incarceration in the United States. Next, we review research examining the role of incarceration-and, to a lesser extent, other forms of criminal legal system (CLS) contact, such as probation-as drivers of food insecurity. We conclude with recommendations for critical areas in future research needed to extend the understanding and fill critical gaps in the relationship between CLS contact and food insecurity.