Prevalence rates of brain injury within the criminal legal system are staggering, with a conservative estimate at 65 percent but reaching as high as 95 percent in specific vulnerable populations, such…

This Project Grant award of $749,904 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (CFDA 16.812) seeks to address the high rates of brain injury among justice-involved individuals in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) will screen approximately 250 inmates within 90 days of release from the Wyandotte County Detention Center annually for brain injury and associated impairments. Inmates who screen positive will receive a neuropsychological assessment and be evaluated for criminogenic risk. NASHIA will then provide intensive case management services to those identified as having both a brain injury and high risk of reoffending to support their successful reintegration into the community and connection to appropriate service providers. The goal of this project is to reduce recidivism and increase community engagement for justice-involved individuals with brain injuries.

Prevalence rates of brain injury within the criminal legal system are staggering, with a conservative estimate at 65 percent but reaching as high as 95 percent in specific vulnerable populations, such as female offenders. Additionally, the recidivism rates for people with brain injury are double that of their peers without brain injury. There is research that indicates a correlation between high criminogenic risk and brain injury. Through screening, support, and referral, the outcome of this project is to address the identified criminogenic risk and reduce recidivism for individuals with brain injury in the justice system. This project by the national association of state head injury administrators seeks to reduce recidivism and increase community engagement for justice-involved individuals who screen for high criminogenic risk and who also screen positive for a history of brain injury in the wyandotte county (KANSAS) detention center (WCDC). The project will screen inmates who are within 90 days prerelease fromthe wyandotte county detention center for brain injury and subsequent challenges using the online brain injury screening and support system. IT is anticipated that approximately 250 inmates will be screened annually. Those who screen positive for brain injury and associated impairment through the online brain injury screening and support system will be provided a neuropsychological screen using the automated neuropsychological assessment metriccore battery (approximately 188). Individuals who have been found to have a brain injury will be screened for criminogenic risk and risk of reoffending through the ohio risk assessment system (an estimated 141 inmates will be screened annually based on the potential of 75 percent screening positive for brain injury). Intensive case management will be provided to those who screen positive for high risk of reoffending and brain injury to ensure a successful reintegration into the community and connection to community providers.