Involvement with the criminal justice system increases markedly during the transition from youth to adulthood in the United States. Providing targeted services and supports to vulnerable emerging adults during this transition may be an effective way of reducing the conditions and behaviors that lead to incarceration and its adverse health effects.  The research team led by Texas A&M University uses a randomized trial to test the effectiveness of the Transformative Justice (TJ) program in reducing criminal justice recidivism and improving health outcomes by coordinating health and social services for justice-involved young adults.  The program assigns a multi-sector case management team to individuals following their arrest for lower-degree felony offenses, connecting them to mental health, legal assistance, education, employment training, transportation, and housing services. The research team collaborates with the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School, the University of Texas Health Science Center, the Lone Star Justice Alliance, and multiple local non-profits and county agencies to conduct the study.

Principal Investigators:
George Naufal, PhD
Assistant Research Scientist, Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A&M University

Emily Naiser, PhD, MPH
Project Director, Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A&M University

Project Details:
Year: 2019
Funding Amount: $228,830
Status: Inactive