Ohio Research in TBI and Concussion in Law Enforcement
Injuries are often part of the job for those in law enforcement. But the injuries that can’t be seen often pose serious threats to officers’ long-term health. New research from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals a correlation between head injuries and symptoms of depression and PTSD among law enforcement officers, highlighting the need for improved resources and protocols.
Mind Matters: Building a Justice System That Is Inclusive and Responsive to Brain Injury
NASHIA's Judy Dettmer was featured as a subject matter expert on brain injury in this brand new brief on brain injury and the criminal legal system, brought to you by the Council of State Governments and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
It is estimated that over half of individuals encountering the criminal justice system have experienced at least one brain injury, yet many of these individuals are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and left without proper care and supports across the criminal justice continuum.
This report synthesizes findings from a landscape review of brain injury in the criminal justice system, including interviews and focus groups; elevates key resources and best practices; and provides recommendations for building an inclusive and responsive justice system.
The Intersection of Deflection, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Substance Use Disorders Podcast Series
In this podcast series, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) team explores the interconnectivity between brain injury, behavioral health, law enforcement, and the justice system. Through the episodes, the team interviews experts and discusses the prevalence, impacts, and best practices for law enforcement to engage in successful interactions with those living with brain injury and behavioral health conditions.
Six-month Post-release Outcomes for Inmates With Traumatic Brain Injury in Supported Community Programming
The latest publication supported by the NASHIA team! Judy Dettmer, NASHIA’s Director of Technical Assistance and Special Projects assisted with this resource related to tracking outcomes of individuals released from the justice system with TBI.
The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of case management services for a population of justice-involved individuals with TBI history. The data suggests that receiving services can prevent an escalation of psychosocial needs.
Competencies for Training Juvenile Services on Justice-Involved Youth with Traumatic Brain Injury
Article published in the Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services, January 2024.
ABSTRACT
Research indicates young individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in juvenile justice settings lack essential support, mainly due to staff members' insufficient knowledge and skills in TBI-related areas stemming from a lack of relevant professional development. This study aimed to improve services for justice-involved youths with TBI in juvenile correction facilities by establishing empirically validated core competencies tailored to their needs. Through a Delphi study involving experts in juvenile services, juvenile corrections, TBI, transition services, and professional development, we identified and refined a set of 44 competencies distributed across six domains: knowledge (12 competencies), screening (6 competencies), eligibility (3 competencies), assessment (4 competencies), intervention (10 competencies), and community reentry (9 competencies).
Treatment Court Toolkit for Supporting Individuals w/ ABI
Each year, approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain a brain injury, and an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with the effects of one. While the incidence of brain injuries in the general population is alarming, the prevalence among justice-involved individuals is staggering, so much so that the CDC recognizes brain injury in prisons and jails as an important public health problem.
All Rise's Justice for Vets has partnered with NASHIA to develop a new toolkit designed to help treatment courts better identify, assess, treat, and support individuals with acquired brain injury in their programs.
Building Capacity of Veteran Treatment Courts: Resources for Brain Injury Programs
The prevalence of brain injury among veterans is high, and especially so for those veterans who are engaged in the criminal legal system. Veteran treatment courts provide an ideal opportunity for a partnership between brain injury programs and the courts to ensure better outcomes for the veteran. This toolkit provides state brain injury programs an overview of what veteran court is, a video from a judge’s perspective designed to promote buy-in for the need for this support, tip sheets for a variety of audiences, and PowerPoint training slide decks to aid in training efforts.
TBI Youth Justice Website
NASHIA is proud to be a project partner with McMaster University as they launch the TBI Youth Justice website, a freely available resource and toolkit for and about children and youth (up to <25 years) with TBI who intersect with the criminal justice system internationally. The work of this international collaboration aims to make a difference in the trajectory and outcomes for childen and youth in the justice system around the globe.
DRNC TBI Justice Database
Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) has initiated the country’s first national database centralizing information on criminal legal system-related brain injury screening and supportive service programs, including pilots, academic studies, and projects from the past 30 years. Users will be able to search for reports about prior and ongoing TBI screening projects across the nation and for all population categories: juvenile justice, adult corrections, specialty courts, probation, and parole.
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Best Practice Guide and Supporting Materials
With support from the ACL TBI Program’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Workgroup, NASHIA developed this best practice guide for state brain injury programs related to brain injury and criminal and juvenile justice.
NCSL: State Approaches for Addressing TBI in the Juvenile Justice Systems
This report examines the issue and prevalence of traumatic brain injury among justice-involved juveniles.
Mt. Sinai: A Guide to Resources to Address TBI within Juvenile Justice Systems in the United States
“Opportunity lost” seems an apt characterization of many juvenile justice systems (JJSs) in the United States, in terms of learning about and addressing the needs of youth with TBI under their jurisdiction.
Colorado Criminal Justice and Brain Injury
“The Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado (BIAC) envisions our state to be one in which all survivors can thrive, including those that have been or are currently involved in the criminal justice system.”
Alabama Report on TBI and Juvenile/Criminal Justice Systems
“The ADRS State Head Injury Program convened a second meeting: “Traumatic Brain Injury in the Criminal Justice & Juvenile Justice Systems” with representatives from ten states in December 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose of this meeting was to share lessons learned and draw conclusions regarding challenges faced by states in addressing the four barriers identified by HRSA in delivering services for individuals with TBI in these systems.”