Our research focuses on translational epidemiological and clinical research questions aimed at improving outcomes for those with mental illness in contact, or at risk of contact, with the criminal justice system. We work closely with partners and stakeholders to ensure that research projects and their outcomes are clinically relevant and impactful.
The team is committed to producing high-quality scientific research that will inform future policy and service development initiatives locally and nationally, as well as contributing to the international evidence base.
Our goals
Our goal is to understand and improve health outcomes for those with mental illness in contact, or at risk of contact, with the criminal justice system.
Current projects include:
- Enhancing prison-to-community mental healthcare for First Nations Prisoners (funded by Medical Research Future Fund)
- Care pathways of individuals diverted from local court into the mental health system in New South Wales (funded by Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, the Australian Institute of Criminology and the NHMRC)
- Mental health screening in reception centres (funded by NHMRC, NSW TRGS and Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network)
- NSW Forensic Patient Database (funded by the NSW Mental Health Commission and NHMRC)
- NSW Child development study
Research strengths
Intergration with clinical settings
- Clinician and staff involvement in research
- Translation to practice
Engagement with consumers
- Focus on voices of people in contact with the justice system through qualitative research
Collaboration with other research groups and organisations, including
- Primary partnership with Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health, NSW
- Other partnerships/collaborations:
- NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal
- NSW Mental Health Commission
- National Centre for Register Research, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Justice Health Forensic Mental Health Network Research Unit
- Prof. Stuart Kinner – Curtin University on a NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London
- Prof. Tony Butler, UNSW
- 3DN, UNSW
Supervisory experience
- Research support and mentoring of ILP, Honours, Master and PhD students; supervision of RANZCP scholarly projects
Our publications
- Screening for self-harm risk on prison entry: a predictive validity study of assessing self-harm history and recent self-harm cognitions in men and women
- Continuity of mental health care during the transition from prison to the community following brief periods of imprisonment https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.934837
- First Nations Peoples in the Forensic Mental Health System in NSW: characteristics and rates of criminal charges post-release https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674231151594
- A systematic review of interpersonal violence perpetration and victimisation outcomes examined within single study cohorts, including in relation to mental illness https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221145732
- The prevalence of mental illness in young people in custody over time: comparison of three surveys in New South Wales from 2003 to 2015 https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2023.2192257
- Mental health court diversion for adults and adolescents in NSW https://doi/abs/10.3316/informit.100643956982980
