A recent issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior (Volume 52, Issue 2) features a new study by Emily I. Troshynski, Carolyn Willis, and Kara Forrai that examines the effectiveness of social reentry programs with staff who have experiential knowledge of being justice-involved individuals. The study adopted a qualitative approach, interviewing and analyzing responses from formerly incarcerated people to learn how their interactions with peers and mentors who had similar life experiences worked to reduce the likelihood of recidivism. The study was underwritten by a Second Chance Act (SCA) Grant from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), which offers federal funds to advance efforts … [Read more...] about Summary: “Knowing and Working with Someone Who Has Made It Means I’m Going to Make it Too”: Experiential Knowledge as a Catalyst for Transformation in Reentry and Beyond
National Commission on Correctional Healthcare: Report on Spring Conference Louisville Kentucky April 5th-8th 2025
In April of this year, I was lucky enough to travel to Louisville, Kentucky, USA with two healthcare colleagues to attend the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC) Spring Conference 2025. This was on foot of Caron McCaffrey (Director General of the Irish Prison Service) challenging me and my team to seek out more solutions to the healthcare challenges we face in corrections, with a particular emphasis on reviewing what is happening in other jurisdictions. Scrolling LinkedIn one evening in Dublin, I came across the NCCHC Spring Conference in Kentucky. The itinerary was broad, relevant, and looked really interesting. Our Director General agreed to three of us travelling, … [Read more...] about National Commission on Correctional Healthcare: Report on Spring Conference Louisville Kentucky April 5th-8th 2025
The Growth Standards: Creating Blueprints for Cultural Change
Justice 2.0 is a campaign that calls for an upgrade to the justice system, globally. At the forefront of this campaign is culture change, acknowledging the harms associated with unhealthy and toxic cultures, and proposing that communities (including practitioners and those in contact with the system) deserve better. Justice 2.0 is co-owned by any individual or organisation that wants cultural change. It encourages people to explore what they would like as an upgrade within the justice system. Grow Transform Belong CIC (GTB) is leading the way through its core strategy, which has three key elements: Firstly, GTB provides resources and online learning opportunities and courses to … [Read more...] about The Growth Standards: Creating Blueprints for Cultural Change
IACFP International News, Research, and Resources for May/Jun 2025
IACFP IACFP supports correctional and forensic psychologists, as well as other helping professionals working with justice-impacted individuals. We aim to advance evidence- and practitioner-informed policies and practices, and to elevate psychology’s role in correctional settings. For 2025–2031 we have adopted three pillars as the Association’s strategic focus: Helping the Helpers: IACFP is dedicated to advancing the voice of psychology in corrections through supporting psychologists and other helping professionals. The focus of this support is opportunities for connection with colleagues globally and learning through Continuous Professional Development. Research to … [Read more...] about IACFP International News, Research, and Resources for May/Jun 2025
Foreword from Jessica Borg
Kia ora and Hello! I was delighted to be nominated as President-Elect of the International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology (IACFP) and started in the role in January 2025 together with Dr Emma Regan who commenced as our President at the same time. It is truly rewarding to be working alongside my colleagues on the Board. We bring a range of diverse backgrounds, professional experience, and skills that serve to strengthen our pursuit of the objectives set in our strategy. A little about me – I am originally from the small island of Malta in the Mediterranean where I completed my BA in Psychology (Honours). I was awarded a scholarship from the European Union for an MA … [Read more...] about Foreword from Jessica Borg
Summary: The Intersection of Juvenile Psychopathy, Protective Factors, Treatment Change, and Diversity in Justice-Involved Youth
The 50th anniversary issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior (Vol. 52, Issue 3, March 2025) has published a new study co-authored by Kristine M. Lovatt, Keira C. Stockdale, and Mark Olver that examines how protective factors, dynamic violence risk, and recidivism intersect with cases of juvenile psychopathy. Through a comparative analysis of different measuring tools and official records, the researchers looked at a diverse sample of Canadian justice-involved youth to see how psychopathic traits corresponded with criminal risk and recidivism. The study found that while juvenile psychopathy remained clinically relevant, the construct did not seem to be connected to a lack of protective factors … [Read more...] about Summary: The Intersection of Juvenile Psychopathy, Protective Factors, Treatment Change, and Diversity in Justice-Involved Youth
Summary: Where Should We Intervene, 20 Years Later? – Case–Control and Prospective Cohort Designs Provide Similar Answers
The 50th anniversary issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior Vol. 52, Issue 3, March 2025) has published a new study by Julie Blais, R. Karl Hanson, and Andrew J.R. Harris that revisits a 2000 case-control study of risk factors for sexual recidivism (Hanson & Harris), also originally published in CJB. By examining updated information on the original sample subjects collected in 2017, the researchers were able to further compare those who re-offended and those who did not by differentiating the risk factors observed in the original case-control study and those in the new prospective cohort model. While most of the comparisons favored the prospective cohort study design, the researchers … [Read more...] about Summary: Where Should We Intervene, 20 Years Later? – Case–Control and Prospective Cohort Designs Provide Similar Answers
IACFP International News, Research, and Resources for Mar/Apr 2025
IACFP IACFP Sponsors Correctional Research Symposium 2025 IACFP is committed to advancing the voice of psychology in corrections. The Correctional Research Symposium 2025 offers us the opportunity to spotlight our strategic pillar of “Research to Practice & Practice to Research,” which is why we are pleased to support sponsors International Corrections and Prison Association (ICPA) and the European Organisation for Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) and host the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) in delivering this important event. For more information on CRS 2025, go to ICPA's website or EuroPris’ website. “What happens to imprisonment rates when a … [Read more...] about IACFP International News, Research, and Resources for Mar/Apr 2025
Foreword from Dr Emma Regan, Newly Elected IACFP President
Summary: A Survey of OPD Pathway Services Recipients in United Kingdom Prisons
The January 2025 issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior has published a new study of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway co-authored by Manuela Jarrett, Julie Trebilcock, Tim Weaver, Andrew Forrester, Colin D. Campbell, Mizanur Khondoker, George Vamvakas, Barbara Barrett, and Paul A. Moran. The OPD Pathway is a network of services across prison, health and community settings in England and Wales developed by His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) and National Health Service in the United Kingdom. It was designed to provide mental health support for incarcerated individuals with personality disorders. The study was a component of a national review of the OPD Pathway … [Read more...] about Summary: A Survey of OPD Pathway Services Recipients in United Kingdom Prisons
Summary: Reception to and Efficacy of a Serious Video Game for Correctional Intervention
A pilot study of the utility and effectiveness of video games designed for correctional intervention appears in the November 2024 issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior. The study is co-authored by Keegan J. Diehl, Robert D. Morgan, Christopher M. King, Paul B. Ingram, and Cooper Mitchell, and focuses specifically on Project Choices, a "serious" video game designed for justice-involved individuals that aims to reduce recidivism. Through a cross-over design study and follow-up surveys, the researchers sought to determine if Project Choices could provide as much engagement and immersion to the players as a game designed strictly for leisure purposes. The researchers also looked at the effects … [Read more...] about Summary: Reception to and Efficacy of a Serious Video Game for Correctional Intervention
IACFP International News, Research, and Resources for Jan/Feb 2025
We've compiled top highlights from recent research, policy, and practice resources across the world for our latest IACFP International News summary. Our topics for January and February, 2025 include IACFP updates; member access to SAGE Journals; recent research, policy, and practice; and upcoming conferences. International News 3rd Annual Mental Health-Substance Use Health Report Card The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health issued the 3rd Annual Mental Health-Substance Use Health Report Card in January 2025. Findings that are particularly relevant for correctional psychology are the following: “There is no health without mental health and substance use health. … [Read more...] about IACFP International News, Research, and Resources for Jan/Feb 2025
