Mental Health and the Justice System in Durham County (2025-2026)
Background
Mental illness is over-represented in the incarcerated population. Successfully addressing this issue requires involvement from health systems, social support systems and the criminal-legal system to reduce incarceration of people living with mental illness. Existing programs in Durham aim to support people living with mental illness in the criminal justice system, but it is important to determine which programs are most effective so officials can make informed decisions about how to deploy limited public resources.
Project Description
This project team will use data from the Durham County Detention Facility (DCTF) and Duke Health to inform community stakeholders in the criminal justice system of the extent, usage patterns, medical needs and insurance status of individuals with needs that lie at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice.
For over five years, the team has collaborated with the DCTF to develop a dataset of all people who were booked into the detention facility from 2014 to 2021 and all of their Duke Health encounters during that time period. In 2025-2026, team members will incorporate updated data, including information regarding ongoing mental illness and addiction support programs in the detention facility, as well as referrals for housing, healthcare and mental health support upon release.
The team will evaluate the cost-effectiveness and overall success of DCDF programming in preventing rearrest and identify ways in which Duke Health can continue to be a supportive partner. Additional community partners will include the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Justice Services Department, Durham Crisis Intervention Team and Stepping Up Initiative.
Anticipated Outputs
Reports to Durham County stakeholders; scholarly publications; updated data and models
Student Opportunities
Ideally, this project team will include 2 graduate students and 6 undergraduate students. Students with backgrounds in statistics, computer programming, psychology, neuroscience, sociology and public policy are encouraged to apply.
All team members will learn to clean, analyze and interpret results from a large dataset. Team members will also learn qualitative research methods, including how to design and perform focus group interviews. Students will learn how to design relevant research questions, undertake statistical analysis using R, and translate findings to a lay audience through oral presentations and written reports. Team members will also gain skills in reading academic publications through a team journal club and will gain insight into issues related to mental health and the justice system, learning from engaged community partners.
Returning team members will mentor newer team members, and a graduate student project manager will meet with the team at least twice per week. The full team, including faculty leaders, will meet once per week. Team members will meet with Duke-affiliated partners and consultants as needed for advice and insight. The team will also meet with external community partners once or twice per semester to share findings and plan next steps.
Team members will collaborate to prepare findings for publication, and students may also have the opportunity to present their work at national meetings.
During Summer 2025, students new to the team will be asked to complete online training and paperwork to be added to the IRB protocol. The full team will also read a book to be discussed in the fall semester.
Timing
Summer 2025 – Spring 2026
- Summer 2025: New students complete online training; all team members read book
- Fall 2025: Work with stakeholders to clarify and refine research questions; replicate previous analyses with updated data; discuss the book read over the summer
- Spring 2026: Finalize analyses; write up reports for stakeholders and academic publication
Crediting
Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters
See earlier related team, Mental Health and the Justice System (2024-2025).