My current research is focused on the following topics:
a) identifying best practices for supervising offenders with mental disorder
b) officer attitudes, professional orientations, and decision-making in community corrections
c) the stigmatization of offenders with mental disorder and how this affects their criminal justice and mental health outcomes
d) Hispanic mental health disparities in the criminal justice system
Current Projects:
Mental Health Treatment Seeking in Justice-involved Hispanics. This study seeks to examine the factors that promote or hinder mental health treatment seeking among Hispanics on probation. A particular focus of this project is the role of social support and social networks on treatment seeking. Approximatley 90 probationers will be intereviewed during this study, and agency records will be reviewed to track mental health and criminal justice outcomes over the course of one year. This study is being conducted with the cooperation of the West Texas Community Supervision and Corrections Department, and is funded by a grant from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.
Mental Health Screening in Hispanic Juvenile Offenders. This study seeks to validate a mental health screening measure (the MAYSI-2) among Hispanic juvenile offenders (primarily of Mexican and Mexican-American origin). This project is being conducted in partnership with the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department, and seeks to maximize the accuracy of identifying serious mental disorder among Hispanic juveniles in correctional settings.