The effects of collateral consequences of criminal involvement on employment, use of temporary assistance for needy families, and health

Criminal convictions are often associated with collateral consequences that limit access to the forms of employment and social services on which disadvantaged women most frequently rely – regardless of the severity of the offense. These consequences may play an important role in perpetuating health disparities by socioeconomic status and gender. We examined the extent to which research studies to date have assessed whether a criminal conviction might influence women’s health by limiting access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and employment as a secondary, or “collateral” criminal conviction-related consequence. We reviewed 434 peer journal articles retrieved from three electronic article databases and 197 research reports from three research organizations. Two reviewers independently extracted data from each eligible article or report using a standardized coding scheme. Of the 16 eligible studies included in the review, most were descriptive. None explored whether receiving TANF modified health outcomes, despite its potential to do so. Researchers to date have not fully examined the causal pathways that could link employment, receiving TANF and health, especially for disadvantaged women. Future research is needed to address this gap and to understand better the potential consequences of criminal justice system involvement on the health of this vulnerable population.