
Christy Visher Ph.D.
Professor
Director, Center for Drug and Health Studies
University of Delaware
CDHS - 257 East Main Street, Suite 110
Newark, DE 19716
302-831-6921
Biography
Christy Visher is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware and Director of the Center for Drug and Health Studies – a research center affiliated with the Department focused on substance abuse, health risk behaviors, and criminal justice research and evaluation. Over the past three decades, her research has focused broadly on crime and justice topics, including prisoner reentry, crime prevention strategies, substance misuse, and implementing evidence-based practices in the criminal justice system. Dr. Visher designed and implemented the path-breaking longitudinal study of men and women released from prison, Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry. Her most recent funded research projects examine the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in correctional settings to reduce misconduct and rearrest, test interventions to link probationers to health care providers, and develop strategies for community reintegration among men and women exiting prison.
www.cdhs.udel.edu
Research Interest
Criminal careers, prisoner reentry, substance abuse, communities and crime, health and justice, and implementation science.
Recent Research Projects
Prison Research and Innovation Network.
This project is a consortium of five states, each working to establish a model of transparency, accountability, and innovation in one prison with the support of a research partner to enhance research and data capacity. The purpose of the PRIN is to better understand prison environments; enhance prisons’ data collection capacities to promote transparency and accountability; and design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs and policies to improve conditions for individuals incarcerated in and working in prisons. The Center for Drug and Health Studies is the research partner and will collaborate with the Delaware DOC to plan and carry out research activities, including conducting administrative data collection, climate surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with correctional staff and incarcerated people as well as baseline data analyses and evaluability assessments of prospective changes to policies and practices.
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Misconduct Behind Bars: “A Randomized Control Trial of CBI-CC.
This study will test the effectiveness of the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions – A Comprehensive Curriculum (CBI-CC) program on reducing prison misconduct and violence in prison and arrests after release among a sample of incarcerated individuals in three prisons in Delaware. Four hundred sentenced high-risk adult males will be randomly assigned to receive either the CBI-CC intervention or treatment as usual. The primary outcome is prison misconduct. Secondary outcomes will include institutional grievances and rearrests six months post release for those who return to the community during the study period.
Implementing a Culture of Heath among Delaware's Probation Population
This pilot project investigated the process and short-term impact of implementing a multiagency "Culture of Health" team in a probation agency using a Change Team approach to focus the efforts of multiple agencies to improve the alignment, collaboration and synergy of health and other social service delivery to this traditionally hard to reach and underserved population. The project used a mixed-methods design including random assignment of probationers to the new services delivery approach.
Evaluating a Drug Testing and Graduated Sanctions Program in Delaware: A Randomized Trial
This two-year project implemented a randomized trial to monitor chronic drug offenders in the community through increased, regularly scheduled urinalysis testing, coupled with sanctions and referral to treatment for positive tests. The Delaware Department of Probation and Parole randomly assigned eligible offenders to standard probation (n=300) or the enhanced condition (n=300). Those in the standard condition received the normal probationary requirements, including random urinalysis. Those in the enhanced condition received regularly scheduled urinalysis coupled with referral to treatment, if required, and a program of graduated sanctions.
Race, Justice Policy Research Group
This Page Last Modified On:
<a target="_blank" href="/Lists/Bios/AllItems.aspx" class="ms-promotedActionButton"> <span style="font-size:16px;margin-right:5px;position:relative;top:2px;" class="fa fa-pencil-square-o"></span><span class="ms-promotedActionButton-text">EDIT LIST</span> </a> <a target="_blank" href="/cas-it/utility/ir-bio" class="ms-promotedActionButton"> <span style="font-size:16px;margin-right:5px;position:relative;top:2px;" class="fa fa-crop"></span><span class="ms-promotedActionButton-text">CROP IMAGES</span> </a> <a target="_blank" href="/Images%20Bios/Forms/Thumbnails.aspx" class="ms-promotedActionButton"> <span style="font-size:16px;margin-right:5px;position:relative;top:2px;" class="fa fa-camera"></span><span class="ms-promotedActionButton-text">UPLOAD IMAGES</span> </a> <a target="_blank" href="/Documents Bios CVs/Forms/AllItems.aspx" class="ms-promotedActionButton"> <span style="font-size:16px;margin-right:5px;position:relative;top:2px;" class="fa fa-file-text"></span><span class="ms-promotedActionButton-text">UPLOAD CV'S</span> </a>
WebPartEditorsOnly hideHeader