Measuring the uniquely painful incarceration experiences of LGB+ and trans people and the implications for mental health

Understanding the uniquely painful incarceration experiences for LGB+ and transgender people is important because it can inform theory, research, and policy aimed at reducing harms. The current study expands upon Sykes' pains of imprisonment framework to compare the incarceration experiences of LGB+ and heterosexual people and, separately, the experiences of transgender and cisgender people. We use the National Inmate Survey, a nationally representative survey, to identify the pains more likely to be experienced by LGB+ and trans people and the impact these pains have on serious psychological distress. We find that LGB+ and trans people report experiencing more pains of imprisonment, including a hostile institutional environment, solitary confinement placements, lack of social support, and sexual victimization from other incarcerated people and staff. The analyses reveal limited social support to be a key factor predicting serious psychological distress for LGB+ incarcerated people. The findings demonstrate a need for more research examining the experiences of LGB+ and trans people in carceral settings and the urgency for policy that provides social and mental health support.