Interim Director
Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., Experimental Psychology
Texas Christian University
E-mail address:
k.knight@tcu.edu
Since joining the IBR faculty in 1991, Kevin Knight’s career has focused on researching substance-using criminal justice populations. He has served as the Principal Investigator (PI) on several research projects funded by NIDA (the National Institute of Drug Abuse), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the National Institute of Corrections. He has also served as the TCU PI on a major NIDA Cooperative Agreement called Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS); a multisite project spanning over 12 years and focused on testing strategies
to improve the implementation of evidence-based practices within a criminal justice setting. He currently serves as one of the Multiple PIs on one of two HEAL projects – the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network or JCOIN project. Dr. Knight served with Dr. Patrick Flynn as one of the Multiple PIs on a fiveyear project for HIV-positive prisoners from North Carolina and Texas being released back into the community. This project involved conducting a randomized clinical trial of an augmented test, treat, link, and retain model. Additionally, as a Co-PI on the IBR’s 6-year NIDA-funded Disease Risk Reduction Project (DRR), Dr. Knight developed, adapted, and tested intervention strategies designed to reduce the frequency of on-going risky behaviors for HIV-positive individuals released from custody. Dr. Knight has spearheaded studies involving the development, implementation, and psychometric testing of brief screening tools for substance use disorders, psychosocial functioning, client motivation, and treatment engagement. He co-authored the TCU Drug Screen 5—Opioid Supplement and serves on multiple journal editorial boards. He participates in advisory activities for organizations addressing criminal justice, substance use, and related policy issues. His primary research interests include screening and assessment strategies, targeted and adaptive interventions, and implementation strategies for evidence-based practices within justice-involved organizations. Dr. Knight assumed the role of Interim Director in June of 2019.
Selected Advisory and Service Activities
Publication reviewer for Offender Programs Report (Editor), Journal of Offender Rehabilitation (Editorial Board), Criminal Justice & Behavior, Criminology & Public Policy, Drug Court Review, Journal of Drug Issues, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Journal of Interpersonal Violence Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Journal of Addiction Medicine, Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy
Grant reviewer for US DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance, US DOJ National Institute of Justice, US DOJ Office of Justice Programs, NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse, SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Faculty mentor for the University of Texas Southwestern Clinical Research Scholars program and the University of South Florida’s Department of Mental Health Law and Policy department
Advisor for the Southeast European Network of Social Empowerment network, Council of State Governments, National Reentry Resource Center, Illinois Treatment and Safer Communities, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Center for Effective Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, multiple state and county Department of Corrections, and multiple non-profit treatment providers.
Selected Publications
Knight, K. & Flynn, P. (2012). Clinical trials involving prisoners: a bioethical perspective. Clinical Investigation, 2(12), 1147-1149.
Knight, K., Simpson, D. D., & Flynn, P. M. (Guest Eds.). (2012). Special Double Issue: Brief addiction interventions and assessment tools for criminal justice. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 51(1-2), 1-114.
Knight, K., Dockins, G., & Bradford, B. (2010). A model for adapting treatment to the needs of addicted offenders. Resources Links, 9(1). 11-12. [Abstract]
Simpson, D. D., & Knight, K. (Guest Eds.). (2007). Offender needs and functioning assessments (Special Issue). Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1105-1234.
Knight, K., Garner, B. R., Simpson, D. D., Morey, J. T., & Flynn, P. M. (2006). An assessment for criminal thinking. Crime and Delinquency, 52(1), 159-177. [Abstract]
Knight, K., & Farabee, D. (Eds.). (2004). Treating addicted offenders: A continuum of effective practices. Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute.
Knight, K., Simpson, D. D., & Hiller, M. L. (2002). Screening and referral for substance-abuse treatment in the criminal justice system. In C. G. Leukefeld, F. Tims, & D. Farabee (Eds.), Treatment of drug offenders: Policies and issues (pp. 259-272). New York: Springer.
Knight, K., Hiller, M. L., Broome, K. M., & Simpson, D. D. (2000). Legal pressure, treatment readiness, and engagement in long-term residential programs. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 31(1/2), 101-115. [Abstract]
Knight, K., Simpson, D. D., & Hiller, M. L. (1999). Three-year reincarceration outcomes for in-prison therapeutic community treatment in Texas. The Prison Journal, 79(3), 337-351. [Abstract]
Selected Presentations
Knight, K., Cohn, A., Desmarais, S., Gray, J., Pankow, J., Rowan-Szal, G., Doherty, S., & Flynn, P. (2012, April). Medication Assisted Treatment: Patient-level outcomes substudy. Presented at the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence National Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Knight, K. (2012, May). Treating addicted criminals: A continuum of effective practices. Invited keynote presentation given at the 14th International EWODOR (the European Working Group on Drugs Oriented Research) Symposium, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Knight, K. (2012, May). Treatment for drug addiction and criminality with the criminal justice system. Invited presentation given at KETHEA, Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals, Athens, Greece.
Knight, K. & Chandler, R. (2012, October). Screening & assessment. Invited presentation given at the Einstein Meeting for Screening and Assessment, Washington, DC.
Knight, K. (2012, November). HIV and criminal justice: Engaging the offender in treatment. Presented at the Texas Corrections Association Mid-Winter Conference, Austin, TX.
Knight, K. (2010, February). Principles of drug abuse treatment for criminal justice settings. Invited presentation given at the Symposium on Addiction in UAE: Treatment in Criminal Justice Systems, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.