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William Fisher, Ph.D.Academic Role: Professor
Faculty Appointment(s) In:
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Persons with mental illness who become involved with the criminal justice system are a ubiquitous and persistent problem. Efforts to address this issue typically are framed as a service system issue. This presentation, part of a larger study of patterns and correlates of offending among persons with mental illness, highlights the effects of social environment as a risk factor for arrest. Specifically, this crime mapping analysis shows exposure to poverty and social disorganization – long recognized risk factors for offending, exert a similar influence in persons with psychiatric disorders. Mental health systems need to pay special attention these issues in planning services for this population. Ongoing Projects: 1. Modeling Criminal Justice Involvement Among Persons With Mental Illness (NIMH; 1 ROl MH65611, $625,000, 3 years). This project represents a preliminary effort to discern the role of mental hcahh services in patterns of criminal offending displayed by persons with severe mental illness. It incorporates theoretical frameworks and methods commonly used in criminology to understand patterns of offending over time, the effects of social environments, and the potentially mediating effects of mental health services with regard to patterns of offending. 2. Arrest Patterns Among Youth in Mental Health Systems (PI: Davis, NIMH; R01 MH067862-01A1; $642,000; 3 years) This project examines patterns of juvenile and adult criminal offending of youths identified as receiving services from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s as children/adolescents and who “aged out” of that system. 3. National Youth Screening Assistance Project. (PI: Grisso, MacArthur Foundation; $500,000, 3 years), This project examines the patterns of adoption of an evidence-base practice, a screening protocol, (The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument) by juvenile justice and child/adolescent mental health systems across the nation. There is no overlap with the current project. 4. Center for Research on Mental Health and Criminal Justice Research (Developing Center) (PI’s: Fisher, Wolff, NIMH; $117,108, 3years). This project is developing a Handbook for research involving prisoners as human subjects. (NIMH; $117,108, 3years) Curriculum Vitae
Office: WSH 8B-24
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Dr. Fisher is currently Professor and Associate Director for Public Sector Research. He is also Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University Massachusetts School of Public Health in Amherst. His major research interests include mental health policy, the delivery of services for persons with severe and persistent mental illness, legal and criminal justice implications of mental health system configuration, psychiatric epidemiology and statistical methods and evaluative research.
55 Lake Avenue North Worcester, MA 01655