Social and Economic Factors Associated With Recent and Lifetime Incarceration Among Puerto Rican Drug Users

Abstract

Using a sample of 280 Puerto Rican drug users with a history of incarceration residing in Massachusetts, we explore whether a significant association exists between social and economic factors (maintaining social network contacts, receiving public assistance) and lifetime incarceration. Analysis of survey data using regression methods shows that respondents who live in their own home, receive public assistance, and have recent familial contact are significantly less likely to have been incarcerated in the past 6 months. Among study participants, men and those who initiated heroin use at younger ages are more likely to have greater lifetime incarceration totals. Practice implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• drug use
• incarceration
• HIV prevention
• Puerto Rican
• recidivism
• injection drug use
• injection drug users

Notes

^a Data missing for four participants.

*p≤.05, **p≤.01, ***p≤.001.

^a Data missing for four participants.

^a Reference group.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

*p ≤ .05; **p ≤ .01; ***p ≤ .001.

*p ≤ .05; **p ≤ .01; ***p ≤ .001.