Criminal Incarceration, Statutory Bans on Food Assistance, and Food Security in Extremely Vulnerable Households: Findings from a Partnership with the North Texas Food Bank

Abstract

Leveraging a unique partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, we are able to collect original survey data from food pantry clients in North Texas to investigate a question that has received little attention due to a lack of data. Specifically, we assess the relationship between criminal incarceration and food security. Our analysis suggests minimal impact of incarceration, broadly defined, on household-level food security. However, differentiating between drug-and nondrug-related incarceration, our analysis suggests a positive causal effect of drug-related incarceration on food security, particularly among U.S. born households. This is consistent with an important role being played by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since many states ban participation by former drug offenders. To this end, we document a positive causal effect of incarceration on SNAP participation only among non-drug related offenders. The results call into question the efficacy of statutory bans on program participation for those reintegrating into society.

Food Insecurity and Collateral Consequences of Punishment Amidst the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…Employment barriers, intergenerational effects, and related health and recidivism risks are associated with returning to communities upon release (Binswanger et al, 2012; Venters, 2019; Western, 2018). Although the relationship between incarceration and food insecurity may be complex, researchers provide further evidence that incarceration leads to an increase in food insecurity for individuals and their families (Cox & Wallace, 2016; McDonough et al, 2019; Middlemass, 2019; Turney, 2015; Wang et al, 2013; Western, 2018). A strong social safety net for people involved with the criminal legal system is key to improving health as well as economic outcomes, particularly for those most marginalized (Binswanger et al, 2011; Harding et al, 2014; Western, 2018).…”

“…Over half of female federal prisoners’ sentences involve drug trafficking, making women, who are often also mothers, extremely vulnerable to adverse consequences of SNAP bans (Turney, 2015; Zeng, 2020). Overall, research evidence supports the repeal of statutory bans from nutrition‐related federal support programs while people are reentering society after incarceration for positive population health outcomes (Davison et al, 2019; McDonough, Ian, & Millimett, 2019; Tuttle, 2019; USCCR, 2019; Yang, 2017).…”