Investigating the Relationship Between Criminal Legal System Involvement and Suicidal Behavior Among Black Men: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Sample

Suicide is a significant public health issue, and the rates of suicide among Black men are rising at a higher rate than other groups. However, very few studies are focused on identifying or understanding risk factors for Black men's suicidal behavior. For example, Black men are more likely to be involved in the criminal legal system, and there has been an established link between the criminal legal system and suicidal behavior. This dissertation, guided by four frameworks, the Social Determinants of Health, the Stress Process Model, the Ecological Model, and the Cumulative Disadvantage Theory, examined the association between criminal legal system involvement and suicidal ideation and attempts among Black men over three papers. Paper 1 uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to identify which forms of criminal legal system involvement were significantly associated with suicidal ideation among Black men. Findings reveal that arrest was associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation among Black men. Additionally, several SDOH factors were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. These findings highlight the importance of examining arrest in suicide prevention efforts. Paper 2 follows up on the findings from Paper 1 by using the NSDUH data to create two separate suicidal ideation risk subsamples for Black men with a history of arrest and Black men with community-based supervision. Similarities such as sexual minority status, major depressive episode, and cocaine abuse were consistent across both subsamples. However, the arrest subsamples included moving more than three times as a risk factor, and the community-based supervision subsample revealed reporting unemployment as a risk factor for suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the nuances of the criminal legal system involvement and how specific risks, such as moving multiple times, may be the consequence or the cause of an arrest. For Black men on community-based supervision, finding a job may be a requirement of their community-based supervision, so not having employment may be a stressor that contributes to their suicidal ideation. Paper 3 revealed that Black men with an arrest had higher percentages of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to Black men who did not have an arrest. Black men who progressed further in the criminal legal system had higher percentages of suicidal ideation and attempts. Additionally, Black men with more cumulative disadvantages had higher percentages of suicidal ideation and attempts. These disadvantages accumulate to contribute to Black men's suicidal ideation and attempts.