Faculty Sponsor, if applicable
Molly Brown Ph.D.
Project Abstract
Negative interactions with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) can have unique and long-lasting impacts on those facing homelessness. However, while repercussions of CJS involvement are clearly defined in the current literature, there is a paucity of research that identifies how those facing homelessness themselves internalize and make meaning of their experiences with the CJS. The present study focuses on the adverse experiences that long-term shelter stayers report. Participants were 19 individuals with long-term shelter histories interviewed using a semi-structured one-on-one format. Data from these interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Preliminary themes reveal adverse experiences of racial profiling, trauma within the prison system, and impacts on mental health due to CJS interactions. The implications of these findings lead to a better understanding of the long-term effects of these experiences from their perspective, and what tailored services could be provided to better attenuate negative impacts.
Type of Research
Doctoral-Undergraduate Opportunity for Scholarship (DUOS)
Preview
Presentation Year
May 2019