Criminal Justice & Mental Health Research Center
Established in 2016, the Criminal Justice & Mental Health Research Center (“the Center") conducts data analysis, program/outcome evaluations, and research studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods) in order to improve the lives of people with behavioral health challenges in the criminal legal system, inform health equity, and contribute to evidence-based science. The Center is guided by the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM)(Figure 1) and an equity lens that incorporates structural and systemic barriers and social determinants of health.
The Center has conducted and consulted on studies that are intercept specific (i.e., law enforcement) as well as those that consider the movement and flow of people through the entirety of the criminal legal and forensic system, as articulated through the SIM. To accomplish our research goals and objectives, we partner with multidisciplinary teams from various organizations, foundations, agencies, universities, states, and localities.
Our recent study partners, clients, and/or funders include:
- Aging Research in Criminal Justice Health (ARCH) Network
- American Bar Association Center for Law and Aging
- Arnold Foundation
- Council for State Governments Justice Center
- Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
- GRAND Mental Health, Oklahoma CCBHC
- Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
- Michigan Health Endowment Fund
- Mississippi Department of Mental Health
- National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Nebraska Department of Mental Health
- Pew Charitable Trusts
- University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
- University of Virginia, Institute for Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy
- Veterans Administration Center for Innovation to Implementation
Criminal Justice & Mental Health Research Center
The Center is directed by an experienced criminal legal research methodologist and includes one full-time Research Associate. Center staff work closely with more than a dozen NRI consultants comprised of Forensic Psychologists, academics and researchers, former state commissioners and agency leaders, healthcare workers, former federal government employees, and respected thought leaders in the field. This consultant model, along with an extensive partner network, gives the Center the flexibility, expertise, skills and capabilities to meet its research goals and objectives.
