College of Humanities and Social Sciences
aerial photo of campus at sunset with NYC skyline in background

Healthcare Approaches to Justice Collaborative

Welcome to the Healthcare Approaches to Justice Collaborative at Montclair State University. At the intersection of healthcare and justice, the Collaborative’s mission is to assist programs, conduct research and advance policies to improve communities.

The U.S. remains a significant contributor to mass incarceration, with over 1.8 million individuals in correctional facilities in 2020 (Hang-Brown et al., 2021). Recent estimates indicate an additional five million people under community supervision (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], 2020). Despite substantial budget allocations to criminal justice interventions nationwide, research reveals persistent high rates of crime and recidivism. Eighty-three percent of individuals incarcerated are rearrested or return to prison within a nine-year follow-up period (BJS, 2018). There are bleak extralegal consequences, where 27 percent of formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed, at a rate approximately five times higher than the general U.S. unemployment rate (Couloute & Kopf, 2018). These returning citizens experience significantly higher rates of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and asthma (Acker et al., 2019).

A health-centered approach to criminal justice issues show potential benefits for mental and physical health, employment, housing, interpersonal relationships, incarceration rates, and revictimization outcomes (Affinati et al., 2016; Julliard et al., 2016; Monopoli et al., 2018). Consequently, increased attention and resources are being directed towards these alternatives. The White House, for example, continues to advocate for innovative, community-based approaches to crime and violence that extend beyond the scope of traditional criminal justice measures.

At the intersection of healthcare and justice, we:

Provide Services

  1. Lead Coordinated Community Response (CCR) efforts for both new and established programs.
  2. Offer evidence-based strategic guidance to support new and existing programs in achieving their goals and fostering sustainability and institutionalization.
  3. Conduct formative, process, and outcome evaluations for both new and established programs.
  4. Integrate community-based participatory approaches into the fabric of new and existing programs.
  5. Perform community needs assessments to inform program development.

Conduct Research

  1. Collect and integrate pertinent data from both primary and secondary sources.
  2. Employ contemporary quantitative and qualitative analytical methods, utilizing the latest technologies in natural language processing, data mining, machine learning, and geographic information systems to bolster programs, policies, and research.
  3. Present and publish the Collaborative’s work in partnership with stakeholders.
  4. Actively seek and secure funding for sustaining research initiatives, programs, and policies.

Collaboration & Mentorship

  1. Foster collaboration with research scientists, healthcare professionals, and experts from various disciplines at Montclair State University and beyond.
  2. Provide support and mentorship to doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students across multiple disciplines, facilitating their growth as professionals and scholars through research and internship opportunities.
Mission, Vision, Goals

Misson
At the intersection of healthcare and justice, our mission is to support programs, conduct research, and advocate for policies to enhance communities.

Vision
We envision healthy communities that are equitable and just.

Guiding Principles

Social Determinants of Health: We address the five domains of the social determinants of health (SDH), including economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context, access to quality education, and quality healthcare.

Coordinated Community Response: We develop a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) using established models and frameworks of community engagement, including the social ecological framework, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and translational  research.

Trauma-Informed Approach: We recognize the physical, social, and emotional impact of trauma on individuals and the professionals supporting them.

Equity: We adopt a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, focusing on people of color and others historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

Short-term Goals

  1. Program and Policy Support: Deliver services to assist organizations, communities, and all levels of government in launching impactful programs and policies.
  2. Strategic Solutions: Provide strategic solutions to enhance programs, fostering sustainability and achieving improvement for organizations, communities, and all levels of government.
  3. Research Evaluation: Conduct research to evaluate program processes, ensuring program quality, and measuring outcomes effectively.
  4. Stakeholder Engagement: Generate interest and support for healthcare approaches to justice among diverse stakeholders.
  5. National Leadership:  Attain recognition as a national leader in clinical and translational research, actively contributing to program assistance, policy advancement, and community improvement initiatives.

LONG-TERM GOALS

  1. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal# 3 Good Health & Well Being
  2. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal# 10 Reduced Inequalities
  3. United Nations, Sustainable Development Goal# 16 Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions
Team Members

Founders

Dr. Sheetal Ranjan, PhD (Founding Justice Research Scientist)
Director, Center for Healthcare Approaches to Justice
Professor, Justice Studies & Sociology, Montclair State University
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Violence prevention and intervention, CCR, strategic planning, identifying and seeking funding opportunities to develop programs, evaluation research, institutionalization of programs Bio

Dr. Aakash Shah, MD, MBA, MSc (Founding Healthcare Collaborator)
Medical Director, Project HEAL – A Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health & Department of Emergency Medicine, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Current Staff

Mr. Robert Green, MA
Doctoral Fellow (Justice Research)
PhD student in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University – Newark
Teaching Assistant, Rutgers University – Newark
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Qualitative research, life course criminology, process-tracing methods

Mr. Paradorn Wongchanpai, MA
Doctoral Fellow (GIS)
PhD candidate in Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), Geography and Geographic Information Sciences (GISci) concentration at CUNY Graduate Center
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Geographical Information systems (GIS), Demography, R, Stata

Ms. Sumita Das, MA
Doctoral Fellow (Justice Research)
PhD candidate in Criminal Justice at CUNY Graduate Center
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Reentry, Corrections, Addiction

Katheryne Pugliese, MA
Doctoral Fellow (Justice Research)
PhD candidate in Criminal Justice at CUNY Graduate Center
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Data Analysis, Justice Research, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Ms. Jiayin Luo, BS
Community Partnership Coordinator
BS in Biology and Psychology Villanova University
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Coordinated Community Response, Grant Management

Ms. Debra Wilson-Brown, MA
Center Coordinator
Adjunct Professor, English, William Paterson University
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Coordinating projects, proofing manuscripts

Ms. Naomi Nguyen
Research Assistant – Spring 2024
MA Student in Social Research and Analysis at Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Data Collection and Analysis, Scholarly Literature Review, Manuscript Proofreading

Ms. Dharani Dodda
Research Assistant – Spring 2024
Graduate Student in Information Technology at Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Google App Scripts, Data Collection and Analysis

Current Research Scientists and Collaborators

Dr. C. Clare Strange, MSW, PhD (Justice Research Scientist)
Assistant Research Professor, Department of Criminology & Justice Studies, Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Expertise – Courts, corrections, treatment/rehabilitation, program/policy implementation and evaluation

Ms. Lisa McDermott, LCSW, LCADC (Social Work & Programming Collaborator)
Clinical Program Manager, Project HEAL – A Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program
Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Dr. Cyril S. Ku, PhD (Research Scientist)
Professor, Computer Science, William Paterson University
Wayne, New Jersey, USA
Expertise – Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Data/Text Mining, and Machine Learning

Dr. Morgan Peltier, PhD (Research Scientist)
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine
Neptune, New Jersey, USA
Expertise – Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Dr. Stacy Doumas, MD, MBA (Healthcare Collaborator)
Chief, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,
Residency Program Director & Vice Chair of Education & Research,
Department of Psychiatry, Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Neptune, NJ, USA

Dr. Nicholas Flugrad MD (Healthcare Collaborator)
Psychiatry Resident Physician at Hackensack Meridian Health
Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Dr. Jared R. Dmello, PhD (Justice Research Scientist)
Senior Lecturer in Criminology, The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
Expertise – Illicit networks, Marginalized Populations, Violence Against Women, Program/Policy Implementation and Evaluation

Former Staff & Collaborators

Dr. Ramon Solhkhah, MD, M.B.A., FHELA, DFAACAP, DFAPA (Healthcare Collaborator)
Board of Directors Endowed Chair
Chair, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
NorthShore University Health System

Mr. Jordan Intrator (Healthcare Collaborator)
Medical Student at Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine
Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Dr. MaryAnne Marshall MD (Healthcare Collaborator)
Research Analyst at Department of Psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Health
Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Dr. Amrita Solanky MD (Healthcare Collaborator)
Resident at Hackensack Meridian health
Neptune, New Jersey, USA

Dr. Eric Alcera, MD (Healthcare Collaborator)
Vice Chair of Operations, Department of Psychiatry,
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Neptune, NJ, USA

Gesselle Hernandez
Research Assistant – Summer 2023
BA Sociology junior and Psychology minor at Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Data Organization, Scholarly Literature Review, Policy Review

Sarah Chandler
Research Assistant – Summer 2023
BA Sociology senior at Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Data Collection, Scholarly Literature Review, Policy Review

Angelica Patel, BS
Research Assistant – SUMMER 2023
Medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Florida
Asbury Park, NJ
Data Collection, Scholarly Literature Review, Policy Review

Ongoing Projects

Program Support

  1. Project HEAL – Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program
    Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health
    Activities: Coordinated Community Response and Data Evaluation to support the program.
  2. Elevate – Community-based Violence Intervention Program
    Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health
    Activities: Coordinated Community Response and Data Evaluation to support the program.

Research

  1. Community Needs Assessment & Outcomes Evaluation – Community Violence Intervention
    Activities: Research Approved by Montclair State University IRB-FY23-24-3239
  2. Focus Groups of Community Stakeholders for a Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative
    Activities: Research Approved by Montclair State University IRB-FY23-24-3178
  3. Autoethnographic Study of Supporting Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Programs
    Activities: Research Approved by Montclair State University IRB-FY23-24-3082
  4. Medicaid Reimbursement for Hospital-based Violence Intervention Services: A State-level Implementation Case Study
    Activities: Research Approved by Montclair State University IRB-FY22-23-2789
  5. Program and service needs of clients who experience violent victimization
    Activities: Research Approved by Montclair State University IRB-FY22-23-2913
  6. Healthcare Informatics – A Knowledge Discovery Approach.
    Activities: Big data analytics approach using artificial intelligence technologies that automate the knowledge discovery process (neural networks and deep learning) for a systematic review of hospital-based violence intervention programs.
  7. Project HEAL – Project HEAL (Help, Empower, and Lead) Retrospective Chart Review for New Jersey Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs.
    Activities: Research approved by Hackensack Meridian Health IRB Pro2021-1132.
Publications and Conference Presentations

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

  1. Strange, C., & Ranjan, S. (in press). Exploring knowledge gaps in healthcare approaches to violence intervention and prevention. American Society of Criminology Division on Corrections and Sentencing Handbook Series (Volume 9): Contemporary Issues in Health and Punishment.
  2. Ranjan, S., Doumas, S., & Solhkhah, R. (2023). Presenting a Mass Violence Curriculum for Psychiatry Residents. Academic Psychiatry.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-023-01814-5
  3. Ranjan, S., Strange, C.C., Wojcik, M.L.T., Shah, A., & Solhkhah, R. (2023). Setting Up Violence Intervention Specialists for Success: Bridging the Gap Between Concept and Practice in Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs. The American Journal of Surgery. 226 (1), 140-142.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.02.023
  4. Ranjan, S., Neudecker, C. H., Strange, C. C., Wojcik, M. L., Shah, A., & Solhkhah, R. (2023). Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs): making a case for qualitative evaluation designs. Crime & Delinquency, 69(3), 487-509.https://doi.org/10.1177/00111287221110446
  5. Ranjan, S., & Dmello, J. R. (2022). Proposing a unified framework for coordinated community response. Violence against women, 28(8), 1873-1889. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012221086009
  6. Ranjan, S., Shah, A.K., Strange, C.C. and Stillman, K. (2021). Hospital-based violence intervention: strategies for cultivating internal support, community partnerships, and strengthening practitioner engagement. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research.14(1), 14-25.
    https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-03-2021-0590
  7. Burgess-Proctor, A., & Ranjan, S. (2021). Bridging Divides to Advance Justice: A “Call to Conscience” for Criminology. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 37 (2), 152–165. https://doi.org/10.1177/10439862211002310
  8. Dmello, J. R., & Ranjan, S. (2020). Lock unlock: the impact of COVID-19 on health security in Pakistani and Indian prisons. Victims & Offenders, 15(7-8), 970-987. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2020.1822973

Organized Conference Panels

  1. Ranjan, S., (2023). The Face of Community Violence Intervention Programs: Policy Matters. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), Philadelphia, PA.
  2. Peltier M., (2023). Understanding Violent Victimization – Advancing Methods and Theory. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), Philadelphia, PA.
  3. Ranjan, S., (2023). Advancing Knowledge About Hospital-Based Violence Programs Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting (ACJS), National Harbor, MD.
  4. Ranjan, S., (2022). The Face of Community Violence Intervention Programs: Policy “Matters”. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), Atlanta, GA.
  5. Ranjan, S., (2021). Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs): Making a case for Qualitative Evaluation Designs (Sponsored by the Division of Victomology). Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), Chicago, IL.

Conference Presentations

  1. Strange, C., & McDermott, L. (2024) Innovative Evaluation Approaches for Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs,” Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Grantee Conference, April, Chicago, IL.
  2. Das, S., & Ranjan, S. (2023). Improving the Responsivity of Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) to Key Client Needs: Evidence from Community Partners Serving Victims of Violence. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), November, Philadelphia, PA.
  3. Flugrad, N., Pugliese, K., Doumas, S., & Ranjan, S. (2023). Challenges of Data Collection in HVIP Settings. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), November, Philadelphia, PA.
  4. Green, R., Wongchanapai, P., Flugrad, N., Marshall, M., Peltier, M., Ranjan, S. (2023) Challenges in the Theoretical Development of Neighborhood Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), November, Philadelphia, PA.
  5. Ku, C., Peltier, M., Green, R., Zuta, E., Ranjan, S. (2023) Application of Text Mining for Systematic Reviews of Qualitative Research – A Case Study Using Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), November, Philadelphia, PA.
  6. Strange, C., Ranjan, S., & Shah, A. (2023). A multi-state case study of Medicaid reimbursement policy implementation for hospital-based violence interventions. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), November, Philadelphia, PA.
  7. Strange, C., Ranjan, S., Shah, A., & Solhkhah, R. (2023). Implementing Medicaid reimbursement policies for hospital-based violence intervention services: A case study. Annual Meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), March, Washington, DC, and the Annual Meeting of the ASC, November, Philadelphia, PA.
  8. Flugrad, N. A., Strange, C., Sumita, D., M., Ranjan, S. Shah , A. (2023). Classifying Outcomes for Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs Using a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach. Poster Presentation. National Research Conference, From Evidence to Action: Harnessing Research to Promote Safety & Justice. National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Arlington, VA
  9. Ranjan, S., Intrator, J., Shah, A. & Neudecker, C. (2023). Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs: A Meta-synthesis of the Qualitative Evidence and Agenda for Future Research. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Baltimore, MD.
  10. Ranjan, S., Ku, C. S. & Green, R. (2023). Healthcare Informatics – A Knowledge Discovery Approach. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Baltimore, MD.
  11. Flugrad, N. A., Marshall, M., Paradorn, W., Green, R., Peltier, M., Ranjan, S. (2023). Domestic Violence in New Jersey: Does Neighborhood Context Matter? Presentation at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Baltimore, MD.
  12. Ranjan, S., & Solhkhah, R. (2022). The Role of Health Networks in Addressing Violent Injury Prevention. Presentation at WHO’s 14th World Conference on Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion, Adelaide, Australia.
  13. HVIPs assert that community gun violence is driven by social determinants of health (SDOH) and health inequities, making it essential for health care systems to play a central role in tackling these issues (Solhkhah & Ranjan, 2022; Allen, Brown, Gottleib & Fichtenberg, 2022).
  14. Ranjan, S., Shah, A., McDermott, L., & Solhkhah, R. (2022). The Social Determinants of Health Framework for Community Violence Intervention: A Tool to Advocate for Equitable Organizational Policies in Healthcare Settings. Policy Panel Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.
  15. Ranjan, S., Strange, C., Wojcik, M.L.T., Shah, A., & Solhkhah, R. (2022). Setting Up Violence Intervention Specialists for Success: Bridging the Gap Between Concept and Practice. Presentation at the National Center for Victims of Crime National Training Institute, St. Louis, MO.
  16. Ranjan, S. (2021). Thematic Panel: Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs: Policy, Practice and Research (Sponsored by the Division of Victimology). Organizer and Chair of Policy Panel at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Chicago, IL.
  17. Wojcik, M. L. T., Neudecker, C., Strange, C., Stillman, K., Ranjan, S., Shah, A. (2021). Findings from a Qualitative Meta-Analysis of Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) Research. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.
  18. Ranjan, S., Shah, A., Neudecker, C., Strange, C., Wojcik, M. L. T. (2021). Hospital-based Violence Intervention: Strategies for Cultivating Community Partnerships and Strengthening Practitioner Engagement. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.
  19. Neudecker, C., Ranjan, S., Shah, A., C., Strange, C., Wojcik, M. L. T. (2021). Trends in Violent Victimization Rates: The Impact of Violence across New Jersey. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA.
  20. Ranjan, S., Wojcik, M.L.T., McDermott, L., Shah, A., & Solhkhah, R. (2021). Engaging Hospital Leadership, Community Partners, and Practitioners During HVIP Planning and Implementation. Presentation at the National Center for Victims of Crime National Training Institute, Atlanta, GA.
  21. Ranjan, S., Wojcik, M.L.T., Shah, A., & Solhkhah, R. (2021). Law Enforcement Officers’ Perception of Barriers to HVIP Enrollment and Successful Treatment: Preliminary Results from Project HEAL-JSUMC. Presentation at the Health Alliance for Violence (HAVI) Virtual Conference.
  22. Ranjan, S. (2017) violence prevention using a Coordinated Community Response Approach. Roundtable presentation at the annual meeting of American Society of Criminology, Philadelphia, PA.