Research
The Law & Psychiatry research mission is to identify and address the needs, drivers of reoffending, protective factors, and successful service matching of legally involved youth and adults, particularly emerging adults. We respond to system-level needs within criminal justice & juvenile justice settings by addressing critical issues at the intersection of behavioral health and the law. We use implementation science, psychometric methods, and other research designs best suited to the areas of inquiry. We study valid risk and behavioral health screening and assessment strategies, as well as approaches to promoting positive youth development. Our work also focuses on forensic assessment, diversion and reentry practices, and advancing equity in behavioral health and legal outcomes.
For more information about these projects, contact us at lawpsych@umassmed.edu.
Detention Screening: Tool Validation & Implementation
Prosecutor diversion screening – in diversion tools
Funder: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (sub-award from Policy Research Associates)
Description: This is a partnership with a network of researchers to examine the potential for different types of pretrial risk screening and assessment tools to reduce disparities in carceral decisions by race and the presence of mental health or substance use concerns. The Law & Psychiatry Program is partnering with multiple juvenile justice and criminal-legal agencies to examine the impact of risk tool characteristics on system uptake and the presence or absence of instrument bias by race, mental health, and substance use concerns.
Access the Brief and Podcast "Data Points: Bringing Data to the Debate on Risk Assessments"
Detention Screening: Tool Validation & Implementation
Prosecutor diversion screening – in diversion tools
Funder: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (sub-award from Policy Research Associates)
Description: This is a partnership with a network of researchers to examine the potential for different types of pretrial risk screening and assessment tools to reduce disparities in carceral decisions by race and the presence of mental health or substance use concerns. The Law & Psychiatry Program is partnering with multiple juvenile justice and criminal-legal agencies to examine the impact of risk tool characteristics on system uptake and the presence or absence of instrument bias by race, mental health, and substance use concerns.
Access the Brief and Podcast "Data Points: Bringing Data to the Debate on Risk Assessments"
Diversion Screening: Tool Validation & Implementation
Colorado detention study – in Detention Tools
Funder: Colorado Division of Youth Services
Description: Researchers are partnering with the CO Division of Youth Services to develop and validate an innovative detention screening tool to detect substantial risk for serious harm among youth considered for short-term, pre-trial detention. The tool will be implemented across the state to inform decisions about who should be held in detention versus managed in the community while awaiting trial in an effort to decrease the use of unwarranted confinement and racial disparities.
Prison classification validation
Custody Classification in Adult Correctional Facilities
Funder: National Institute of Justice
Description: A partnership with the MA Department of Correction in which L&P will assess the predictive accuracy overall and across race of the MA Department of Correction’s prison classification system.
Effective Implementation of Risk-Need-Responsivity Approaches
Risk-Need-Responsivity and Service Accessibility for Justice-Involved Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions.
Funder: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Description: L&P is assessing the implementation of the Risk-Need-Responsivity model in reducing reoffending and enhancing community participation among justice-involved transition-age youth with mental health concerns in grassroots initiatives. The study will identify gaps in need-to-service matching, examine key implementation barriers, and propose practical solutions to improve access to effective services in both rural and urban settings.
Youth Protective Factors and Recidivism Study
Effective Supervision and Services in the Juvenile Justice System Based on Risk, Strengths, and Development.
Funder: National Institute of Justice
Description: An unprecedented multi-state, multi-year study that examined how risk factors and protective factors influenced serious reoffending for youth and young adults after involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Settings We Support
We collaborate with individuals with lived experience and personnel in the legal systems and settings that impact youth and adults, including:
- Forensic mental health
- Law enforcement
- Diversion
- Pretrial detention
- Reentry
- Parole
- Probation
Our research has been funded by
Our research has been supported by federal agencies such as: