Improving the Health of Minority Communities through Probation-Public Health Collaborations: An Application of the Epidemiological Criminology Framework

• NCJ Number: 232814
• Journal: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 49 Issue: 8 Dated: November-December 2010 Pages: 595-609
• Author(s): Roberto Hugh Potter; Timothy A. Akers
• Date Published: November 2010
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article introduces the epidemiological criminology framework to look at the causal pathways that underlie both health and criminogenic risks among minority groups, and bring community members into the realm of criminal justice involvement.

Abstract

This article explores the notion that common dynamic risks may underlie both criminal justice system involvement and poor health outcomes among members of minority groups in the United States. The authors introduce the epidemiological criminology framework as a way of conceptualizing, researching, and intervening to reduce both health and criminal behaviors simultaneously among those on community supervision, or probation and parole. The authors use the lack of attention to community-supervised populations in previous research on sexually transmitted diseases as an illustration of lost opportunities. Suggestions for addressing these and other disease states and criminality simultaneously through the epidemiological criminology framework are provided. (Published Abstract) Figure, table, and references