Arrest Status, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Moderating Social Factors: A Cross-sectional Study of a U.S. Sample...

Individuals impacted by the criminal legal system are at heightened risk for death by suicide. This study aimed to examine the association between arrest status and suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts among a nationally representative sample in the United States and investigate if this relationship is moderated by social factors. Data were from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults ≥ 18 years old (2015-2019). Logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between arrest status (never arrested (n = 175,355), ever arrested but not in the past 12 months (n = 29,956), or recently arrested in the past 12 months (n = 5,865)) and suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts in the past 12 months. Additional analyses explored social moderators (i.e., governmental welfare program receipt, food stamp receipt, financial security, health insurance) of the relationship between arrest status and suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts. Recently arrested individuals experienced higher rates of suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts compared to those ever and never arrested. In a fully adjusted model, recently arrested individuals were 5.4% percentage points (95% CI: 4.4-6.5%) more likely to report suicidal ideation, 3.4% percentage points (95% CI: 2.5-4.3%) more like likely to report suicide plans, and 2.6% percentage points (95% CI: 2.0-3.2%) more likely to report suicide attempts compared to never arrested individuals. Not receiving welfare significantly increased risk for suicide plans for those ever arrested compared to those never arrested. Arrest history is linked to risk of suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts. Additional research is warranted to identify what social factors may play a protective or harmful role in suicide-related outcomes among people with past and recent criminal legal involvement.