Healthcare Approaches to Justice Collaborative

The U.S. remains a significant contributor to mass incarceration, with over 1.8 million individuals in correctional facilities in 2020 (Hang-Brown et al., 2021). Recent estimates indicate an additional five million people under community supervision (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], 2020). Despite substantial budget allocations to criminal justice interventions nationwide, research reveals

persistent high rates of crime and recidivism. Eighty-three percent of individuals incarcerated are rearrested or return to prison within a nine-year follow-up period (BJS, 2018). There are bleak extralegal consequences, where 27 percent of formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed, at a rate approximately five times higher than the general U.S. unemployment rate (Couloute & Kopf, 2018). These returning citizens experience significantly higher rates of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and asthma (Acker et al., 2019).

A health-centered approach to criminal justice issues show potential benefits for mental and physical health, employment, housing, interpersonal relationships, incarceration rates, and revictimization outcomes (Affinati et al., 2016; Julliard et al., 2016; Monopoli et al., 2018). Consequently, increased attention and resources are being directed towards these alternatives. The White House, for example, continues to advocate for innovative, community-based approaches to crime and violence that extend beyond the scope of traditional criminal justice measures.

AT THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTHCARE AND JUSTICE, WE:

1. Lead Coordinated Community Response (CCR) efforts for both new and established programs.

2. Offer evidence-based strategic guidance to support new and existing programs in achieving their goals and fostering sustainability and institutionalization.

3. Conduct formative, process, and outcome evaluations for both new and established programs.

4. Integrate community-based participatory approaches into the fabric of new and existing programs.

5. Perform community needs assessments to inform program development.

1. Collect and integrate pertinent data from both primary and secondary sources.

2. Employ contemporary quantitative and qualitative analytical methods, utilizing the latest technologies in natural language

processing, data mining, machine learning, and geographic information systems to bolster programs, policies, and research.

3. Present and publish the Collaborative’s work in partnership with stakeholders.

4. Actively seek and secure funding for sustaining research initiatives, programs, and policies.

1. Foster collaboration with research scientists, healthcare professionals, and experts from various disciplines at Montclair State

University and beyond.

2. Provide support and mentorship to doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students across multiple disciplines, facilitating their

growth as professionals and scholars through research and internship opportunities.

Mission, Vision, Goals

At the intersection of healthcare and justice, our mission is to support programs, conduct research, and advocate for policies to enhance communities.

We envision healthy communities that are equitable and just.

We address the five domains of the social determinants of health (SDH), including economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context, access to quality education, and quality healthcare.

We develop a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) using established models and

frameworks of community engagement, including the social ecological framework, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and translational research.

We recognize the physical, social, and emotional impact of trauma on individuals and the

professionals supporting them.

We adopt a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, focusing on people of color and others historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

1. Program and Policy Support: Deliver services to assist organizations, communities, and all levels of government in launching impactful programs and policies.

2. Strategic Solutions: Provide strategic solutions to enhance programs, fostering sustainability and achieving improvement for organizations, communities, and all levels of government.

3. Research Evaluation: Conduct research to evaluate program processes, ensuring program quality, and measuring outcomes effectively.

4. Stakeholder Engagement: Generate interest and support for healthcare approaches to justice among diverse stakeholders.

5. National Leadership: Attain recognition as a national leader in clinical and translational research, actively contributing to program assistance, policy advancement, and community improvement initiatives.

1. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal# 3 Good Health & Well Being

2. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal# 10 Reduced Inequalities

3. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal# 16 Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions