Mind Matters: Building a Justice System That Is Inclusive and Responsive to Brain Injury

Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the U.S Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance 

It is estimated that over half of individuals who encounter the criminal justice system have experienced a brain injury,* making this a highly prevalent concern among people in the criminal justice system and those working within the system. To lay the foundation for future training, technical assistance, and resource development in this area, policy experts at The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), used insights gathered from literature reviews, policy research, and focus groups to develop a comprehensive brief that outlines key findings and recommendations to advance the field in addressing the issue of brain injury within the criminal justice system. 

This webinar serves as a companion to the brief “Mind Matters: Building a Justice System That Is Inclusive and Responsive to Brain Injury” and more fully provides background, guiding research, and key findings and recommendations for improving responses to people living with brain injury who encounter the justice system. This virtual discussion will feature brain injury experts and criminal justice professionals who have applied best practices to address brain injury in the justice setting.   

Speakers 

• Brooke Mount, Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) 
• Judy Dettmer, Director of Technical Assistance and Special Projects, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
• Rebeccah Wolfkiel, Executive Director, NASHIA 
• Zaida Ricker, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Policy, NASHIA 
• Major Jason Gould, Consultant and Subject Matter Expert, National Sheriffs’ Association; Major of Operations, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office 
• Kate Reed, Project Manager, Behavioral Health, CSG Justice Center 
• Megan Davidson, Program Director, Behavioral Health, CSG Justice Center  

* Shelby Hunter et al., “The Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) among People Impacted by the Criminal Legal System: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Subgroup Analysis,” Law and Human Behavior 47, no. 5 (2023): 539-565, https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000543.