(Im)Balancing Acts: Criminalization and De-Criminalization of Social and Public Health Problems. Issue 4 (2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilbert, Keon L.; Chang, Robert S.
• Editors: Wiley, Lindsay F.; Yearby, Ruqaiijah; Clark, Brietta R.; Mohapatra, Seema
• Is Part Of: Journal of law, medicine & ethics. Volume 50:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 703
• Page End: 710
• Publication Date: 2022
• Subjects: Racial Inequities in Policing -- Disproportionate Minority Contact -- Criminal Legal Justice System Reform -- Health Equity and Policing -- Social and Structural Determinants of Criminalization; Medical laws and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Legislation, Medical -- Periodicals; Legislation, Nursing -- Periodicals; Ethics -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Societies -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation; Medical ethics; Medical laws and legislation; United States; Periodicals; 344.73041
• DOI: 10.1017/jme.2023.11
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1105

Abstract

Abstract: Racially disparate policing, prosecution, and punishment harm individuals, families, and communities. These practices must be understood within the context of the development of the criminal legal system as a means of racialized social control. This context permits a critical examination of the way criminalization has been and is still deployed to subject poor and racialized communities to systemic injustices. This commentary frames a call for interventions to integrate a health justice approach to ensure that they advance racial and health equity to promote the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.