How Are Infant Outcomes for Black Babies Affected by Incarceration Policy?

Summary

State-level incarceration policies can influence infant health outcomes, even though they are not directly related to health care. Research shows that the adoption of “three-strikes” laws was associated with worse birth outcomes for Black infants – particularly those from lower-income backgrounds – while “truth-in-sentencing” policies were linked to modest improvements in birth outcomes, likely through reductions in crime and stress.