Criminal Justice & Behavioral Health Research
NRI provides consulting and research services to improve the lives of individuals with behavioral health needs across justice, behavioral health, and forensics continuums. We collect and disseminate information from State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs) on forensic mental health services as part of NRI’s State Profiles [insert link to NRI’s State Profiles on public 2026 website]. We support NRI’s Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) division by conducting research to support psychiatric facilities serving forensic populations. We conduct data analysis, program/outcome evaluations, and research studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods) and provide training and technical assistance, policy and program planning, and survey development and validation services related to the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health.
Our recent study partners, clients, and/or funders include:
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors https://nasmhpd.org/
American Psychiatric Association https://www.psychiatry.org/
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Correctional Leaders Association https://www.correctionalleaders.com/
Council for State Governments Justice Center https://csgjusticecenter.org/
State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs)
State and private psychiatric facilities
Recent Projects
o Technical Assistance Coalition Policy Paper Series: Refocus and Renew: Moving Towards Health Technical Assistance Papers. Forensic Mental Health Services in the United States: 2017-2024.
The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors partnered with NRI on two TAC papers, one focused on state hospitals and the second focused on forensic mental health services provided by SMHAs. The TAC papers were funded by SAMHSA and will be available here and here. The forensics paper builds on prior research, exploring the trends in the adult forensic composition of state psychiatric hospitals between 2017 and 2024 and results from a survey of 40 state forensic directors, focusing on efforts to meet the competency evaluation and restoration needs of individuals with mental health needs.
o Education and Training Needs of the IST Workforce. 2025 Needs Assessment.
The American Psychiatric Association partnered with NRI to conduct a needs assessment to inform the development of training and educational materials tailored to support the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) workforce and their community partners working with individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI) found incompetent to stand trial (IST).
o Bureau of Justice Assistance, Visiting Fellow Award 2021-2024 Dr. Lisa Clements
o Bureau of Justice Assistance, Visiting Fellow Award 2021-2022 Dr. Jennifer Bronson
Recent Publications:
Forensic Mental Health Services in the United States: 2017-2024, prepared for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under Task 2.2 of NASMHPD’s Technical Assistance Coalition contract/task order, HHSS283201700024I/75S20321F42001. (Forthcoming).
Competency Restoration: Use of State Hospitals, Community-Based, and Jail-Based Approaches. NRI’s 2024-2025 State Profiles. June 2026.
Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations: Use of State Hospitals, Community-Based, and Jail-Based Approaches. NRI’s 2024-2025 State Profiles. June 2026.
Criminal Justice Diversion Programs for Justice-Involved Adults with Mental Illness. NRI’s 2024-2025 State Profiles. June 2026.
Education and Training Needs of the IST Workforce. 2025 Needs Assessment, prepared for the American Psychiatric Association and the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH).
Trauma assessment policies and practices behind bars (for Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance). (2024). National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute (NRI).