The Causes and Consequences of Stigma among Individuals Involved in the Criminal Legal System: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the types of stigmatized attributes that have been assessed and the causes and consequences of stigma for individuals involved in the criminal legal system. PubMed, GoogleScholar, and PsycInfo databases were searched to identify studies for inclusion through March 2021. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, quantitative, and assessed stigma from the perspective of the person involved in the criminal legal system. 59 studies were included (total n=21,738), assessing stigma associated with criminal involvement, HIV, substance use, race/ethnicity, help-seeking, and others. Experiencing criminal involvement stigma was linked to poor well-being, but less so for racial/ethnic minorities. Experiencing racial/ethnic stigma was associated with recidivism risk, and substance use stigma was associated with substance use risk. Several stigmas intersected to impact treatment engagement and well-being. In conclusion, individuals involved in the criminal legal system experience many stigmatized statuses that impact their well-being, treatment adherence, community integration, and criminal behavior. Stigma must be addressed among individuals involved in the criminal legal system and the systems they interact with to reduce health inequity and recidivism risk.