“I Just Don’t Know What to Believe”: Sensemaking during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Criminal Legal Involved Communities

Rochelle Davidson Mhonde (), Breonna Riddick, Aayushi Hingle, Cameron Shaw, Danielle Rudes, Harold Pollack, John Schneider, Xiaoquan Zhao and Faye S. Taxman
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Rochelle Davidson Mhonde: Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Breonna Riddick: Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Aayushi Hingle: Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Cameron Shaw: Schar School of Policy and Government, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Danielle Rudes: College of Criminal Justice Huntsville, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341, USA
Harold Pollack: Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
John Schneider: Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
Xiaoquan Zhao: Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Faye S. Taxman: Schar School of Policy and Government, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, those involved with the criminal legal system experience disproportionate vulnerability to infection, transmission, and mortality, facing additional systemic barriers due to criminal legal involvement (CLI) (e.g., prior incarcerations or probationary status affecting employability or housing security). We use Weick’s (1979) model of sensemaking as a theoretical framework to inform our examination of CLI individuals’ experiences during the pandemic. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the process of sensemaking amid misinformation, trust/mistrust, and vulnerability during the pandemic among CLI communities in three central states (Illinois, Louisiana, and Arkansas). We conducted seven online focus groups ( n = 44), between December 2020 and January 2021, from the targeted communities about their awareness of misinformation, trusted or distrusted sources, attitudes about COVID-19 health behaviors (including testing, protective behaviors such as mask-wearing and social distancing, and vaccination), and experiences with the criminal legal system during the pandemic. The concept of equivocality was at the core of the narratives shared among participants, with uncertainty emerging as a meta-theme across all focus groups. The findings of this study should prove useful for those who are developing messaging to combat mis/disinformation and overcome mis/distrust with the medical system and government institutions among those who are disenfranchised.

Keywords: criminal legal involvement; COVID-19; misinformation; public health; race; trust; vulnerable populations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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