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Prison, Mental Health, and Family Spillovers

Author

Listed:
  • Bhuller, Manudeep

    (University of Oslo)

  • Khoury, Laura

    (PSL Université Paris Dauphine)

  • Loken, Katrine Vellesen

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

Abstract
Does prison cause mental health problems among inmates and their family members? Correlational studies tend to find much higher prevalence of mental health problems among inmates than in the general population, but remain silent on the issue of causality. We combine detailed Norwegian data on visits to health-care professionals with quasi-experimental designs to measure the impacts of incarceration on mental health-related visits by defendants and their family members. Our causal evidence consistently shows that the positive correlation is misleading: incarceration in fact lowers the prevalence of mental health-related visits among defendants. Family members, especially spouses, also experience positive mental health spillovers, while there are fewer episodes of child protection services involvement. We demonstrate that these effects last long after release and are unlikely driven by shifts in health-care demand holding health status constant. We interpret these findings in light of the rehabilitative role of correctional services in the Norwegian context.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhuller, Manudeep & Khoury, Laura & Loken, Katrine Vellesen, 2023. "Prison, Mental Health, and Family Spillovers," IZA Discussion Papers 15993, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15993
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp15993.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Manudeep Bhuller & Gordon B. Dahl & Katrine V. Løken & Magne Mogstad, 2020. "Incarceration, Recidivism, and Employment," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(4), pages 1269-1324.
    2. Bruce Western, 2021. "Inside the Box: Safety, Health, and Isolation in Prison," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(4), pages 97-122, Fall.
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    15. repec:pri:wwseco:dp208 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Brigham Frandsen & Lars Lefgren & Emily Leslie, 2023. "Judging Judge Fixed Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(1), pages 253-277, January.
    17. Samuel Norris & Matthew Pecenco & Jeffrey Weaver, 2021. "The Effects of Parental and Sibling Incarceration: Evidence from Ohio," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(9), pages 2926-2963, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bhuller, Manudeep & Dahl, Gordon B. & Løken, Katrine V. & Mogstad, Magne, 2022. "Domestic Violence and the Mental Health and Well-being of Victims and Their Children," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 21/2022, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    2. Semenza, Daniel C. & Silver, Ian A., 2022. "Stuck in the cycle? Assessing a reciprocal model of incarceration, health, and relative risk over twenty-five years," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; incarceration; family spillovers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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