
Explore peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, and other research outputs from the Institute of Behavioral Research
Featured Publication

Best Practices for Researchers Engaging With Criminal Justice Partners. Journal of Correctional Health Care
Wiese, A. L., Carey, P. D., Becan, J. E., Wood, C., & Knight, K. (2025). Policy Changes to Improve Service Access: Best Practices for Researchers Engaging With Criminal Justice Partners. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 31(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1089/jchc.24.09.0075
Impact Summary
This feature highlights how a TCU led project supported Texas criminal justice agencies in increasing access to community-based substance-use treatment for parole clients. The article walks through a five-step, researcher-supported process used to help these agencies implement and sustain meaningful policy changes.
Publications
2025
Choi, J. H., Patil, S., Brooks, R., Hansen, L., Pulitzer, Z., Pankow, J., Colon, R., Frank, C., Proffitt, R., Kuo, I., Knight, K., Springer, S. A., Nijhawan, A. E., & ACTION Collaborative Group. (2025). Comprehensive Needs Among Justice-Involved People With Substance Use History With or at Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Journal of Correctional Health Care: The Official Journal of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, 31(5), 307–317. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783458251378125
Jones, S. D., Bartkowski, J. P., Belenko, S., Becan, J. E., Taxman, F. S., Wasserman, G. A., Aarons, G. A., McReynolds, L. S., Dolbear, C., & Xu, X. (2025). Site engagement in implementation research: Introducing SEAMLIS as a conceptual and measurement framework. Health & Justice, 13, 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00349-1
McCollister, K. E., Bowser, D., Becan, J. E., Knight, D. K., Belenko, S., Robertson, A. A., & Dennis, M. L. (2025). Addressing unmet need for substance use disorder treatment among youth in the legal system (YLS): Costs of structured implementation interventions with juvenile justice agencies in seven states. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 209721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2025.209721
Sease, T., Lehman, W., Pankow, J., Castillo, R., Becan, J., Charlier, J., & Knight, K. (2025). Strategies for Improving Police Response Models Involving Opioid Overdoses and Overdose Deaths. Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Human Rights and Science, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15223156
Villaire, S., Sease, T., Pankow, J., Bennett, A., Pulitzer, Z., Hansen, L., Frank, C., Di Paola, A., Lehman, W., Sanchez, M., McQuaid, A., Schultheis, A., Stein, B., Springer, S. A., Nijhawan, A. E., & Knight, K. (2025). A qualitative examination of barriers and facilitators to HIV prevention and treatment for people involved with the criminal justice system. Health & Justice, 13(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00344-6
Wiese, A. L., Carey, P. D., Becan, J. E., Wood, C., & Knight, K. (2025). Policy Changes to Improve Service Access: Best Practices for Researchers Engaging With Criminal Justice Partners. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 31(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1089/jchc.24.09.0075
Yang, Y., & Ma, L. (2025). Artificial intelligence in qualitative analysis: A practical guide and reflections based on results from using GPT to analyze interview data in a substance use program. Quality & Quantity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02066-1
Yang, Y., Shelley, L., Razurin, E., & Knight, D. (2025). Using a Dyadic Analysis to Examine the Association Between Family Substance Use History, Attachment, and Substance Use Among Youth Involved in the Legal System and Their Primary Caregivers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 267, 112244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112244
Yule, A. M., Bohnert, A. S. B., Ridenour, T. A., Montgomery, B., Wilens, T. E., Walton, M., Bonar, E. E., Saldana, L., Fiellin, L. E., Knight, D. K., Yang, Y., Williams, J., Khan, S., Tucker, L., Wondimagegnehu, F., & Ahrens, K. (2025). Cross sectional multi-sample study of nonfatal overdose in adolescents and young adults in the fentanyl era. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 276, 112921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112921
2024
Fallin-Bennett, A., Tillson, M., Webster, J. M., Oser, C. B., Becan, J. E., Knight, K., … & Staton, M. (2024). Scales for participant Alliance with Recovery Coach (SPARC): initial development and pilot test. Addiction research & theory, 32(1), 20-26. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16066359.2023.2182881
Nijhawan, A. E., Pulitzer, Z., Torres, B., Noreen, N., Schultheis, A., Frank, C., … & Springer, S. A. (2024). HIV Risk and Interest in Preexposure Prophylaxis in Justice-Involved Persons. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30(Suppl 1), S68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10986824/
Rázuri, E. B., Yang, Y., Tinius, E., & Knight, D. K. (2024). Adaptation of a trauma-informed intervention to prevent opioid use among youth in the legal system. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 209294. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949875924000067
Yang, Y., Joseph, E. D., Shelley, L. T., Razuri, E. B., Tinius, E., Tolou-Shams, M., & Knight, D. K. (2024). Feasibility and acceptability of a trauma-informed intervention to leverage caregivers in preventing opioid use among youth involved in the legal system. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 1-14. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40653-024-00636-3
2023
Ahrens, K., Blackburn, N., Aalsma, M., Haggerty, K., Kelleher, K., Knight, D. K., … & Tolou-Shams, M. (2023). Prevention of opioid use and disorder among youth involved in the legal system: innovation and implementation of four studies funded by the NIDA HEAL Initiative. Prevention science, 24(Suppl 1), 99-110. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-023-01566-6
Fallin-Bennett, A., Tillson, M., Webster, J. M., Oser, C., Becan, J. E., Knight, K., Byard, J., & Staton, M. Scales for Participant Alliance with Recovery Coach (SPARC): Initial Development and Pilot Test. Available at SSRN 4161551. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4161551
Joe, G. W., Lehman, W. E., Pankow, J., Wiese, A., & Knight, K. (2023). Decision-Making Styles as a Moderator on the Efficacy of the StaySafe Tablet Intervention. Substance Use & Misuse, 58(9), 1132-1142. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10826084.2023.2212301
Joe, G. W., Lehman, W. E., Yang, Y., & Knight, K. (2023). The Effectiveness of the StaySafe Intervention Using a Paradigm for Predicting Missing Outcome Data. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 01632787231212462. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01632787231212462
Joe, G., Sease, T. B., Lehman, W., Pankow, J., & Knight, K. (2023). A Comparison of HIV Knowledge, Sex Risk Reduction, HIV Services & Testing, and Risk Reduction Skills in the WaySafe and StaySafe Interventions. Journal of Drug Issues, 00220426231180109. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00220426231180109
Knight, D. K., Funk, R. R., Belenko, S., Dennis, M., Wiese, A. L., Bartkowski, J. P., … & Scott, C. K. (2023). Results of a national survey of substance use treatment services for youth under community supervision. Health & Justice, 11(1), 29. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40352-023-00233-w
Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group, Campbell, J., Criddle, J., Griffin, L., Lieberman, E., May, M., … & Warren, A. (2023). Promoting appetitive learning of consensual, empowered vulnerability: a contextual behavioral conceptualization of intimacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1200452. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1200452/full
Piper, K. N., Pankow, J., & Wood, J. D. (2023). Juvenile probation staff perceptions of engaging families in substance use services. Family Relations. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/fare.12974
Razuri, E. B., Yang, Y., Tinius, E., & Knight, D. K. (2023). Adaptation of a trauma-informed intervention for youth involved in the legal system. https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr623291
Ridenour, T. A., Cruden, G., Yang, Y., Bonar, E. E., Rodriguez, A., Saavedra, L. M., … & Fernandes, C. S. (2023). Methodological strategies for prospective harmonization of studies: application to 10 distinct outcomes studies of preventive interventions targeting opioid misuse. Prevention Science, 24(Suppl 1), 16-29. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-022-01412-1
Robertson, A. A., Gardner, S., Dembo, R., Dennis, M., Pankow, J., & Wilson, K. J. (2023). Impact of implementation interventions to improve substance use service delivery on recidivism among justice-involved youth. Health & Justice, 11(1), 1-10. https://healthandjusticejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40352-023-00210-3
Sease, T. B., & Knight, K. (2023). Development and Testing of the Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scales 3.0. Crime & Delinquency, 69(13-14), 2699-2718. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00111287221134917
Sease, T. B., John, D. A., Perkins, D. R., & Sandoz, E. K. (2023). Psychological inflexibility as a moderator of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and negative automatic thoughts. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 20(4), 528-544. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/26904586.2023.2189203
Sease, T. B., Wiese, A. L., & Knight, K. (2023). A Latent Profile Analysis of Substance Use and Post-Traumatic Stress on Substance Use Treatment Outcomes Among People Involved with the Justice System. Journal of Drug Issues, 00220426241248361. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00220426241248361
Stein, L. A. R., Bassett, S. S., Welsh, W. N., Clair-Michaud, M., Abdel-Salam, S., Monico, L., Gallagher, C., Murgo, C., Yang, Y., Friedmann, P. D., Clarke, J. G., & CJ-DATS-2 Assessment Work Group. (2023). Implementation Strategy Fidelity and Organizational Outcomes in a Randomized Trial: Implications for Reentry from Corrections to Community Treatment. Substance Use & Misuse, 58(3), 320-330. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10826084.2022.2161311
Wiese, A. L., Sease, T. B., Joseph, E. D., Becan, J. E., Knight, K., & Knight, D. K. (2023). Avoidance self-efficacy: Personal indicators of risky sex and substance use among at-risk youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 147, 106846. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40653-024-00636-3
Yang, Y. (2023). A daily diary study on stressors, hurt feelings, aggression, and somatic symptoms: The role of rejection sensitivity and negative emotion differentiation. Aggressive Behavior. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ab.22076
2022
Belenko, S., Dembo, R., Knight, D. K., Elkington, K. S., Wasserman, G. A., Robertson, A. A., Welsh, W. N., Schmeidler, J., Joe, G. W., & Wiley, T. (2022). Using structured implementation interventions to improve referral to substance use treatment among justice-involved youth: Findings from a multisite cluster randomized trial. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 140, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2022.108829
Knight, D.K., Belenko, S., Dennis, M.L., Wasserman, G. A., Joe, G. W., Aarons, G. A., Bartkowski, J. P., Becan, J. E., Elkington, K. S., Hogue, A., McReynolds, L. S., Robertson, A. A., Yang, Y., & Wiley, T. R. A. (2022). The comparative effectiveness of Core versus Core+Enhanced implementation strategies in a randomized controlled trial to improve substance use treatment receipt among justice-involved youth. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08902-6
Patel, S. V., Cance, J. D., Bonar, E. E., Carter, P. M., Dickerson, D. L., Fiellin, L. E., Fernandes, C.S.F., Palimaru, A.I., Pendergrass Boomer, T.M., Saldana, L., Singh, R.R., Tinius, E., Walton, M.A., Youn, S., Young, S., Philbrick, S., & Lambdin, B. H. (2022). Accelerating Solutions for the Overdose Crisis: an Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Protocol for the HEAL Prevention Cooperative. Prevention Science, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s11121-022-01465-2. Online ahead of print.
Ridenour, T.A., Cruden, G., Yang, Y. et al. Methodological Strategies for Prospective Harmonization of Studies: Application to 10 Distinct Outcomes Studies of Preventive Interventions Targeting Opioid Misuse. Prev Sci (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01412-1. Online ahead of print.
Sease, T., Cox, C. R., & Knight, K. (2022) Existential Isolation and Well-being in Justice-Involved Populations. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1092313
Sease, T.B., Joe, G., Pankow, J., Lehman, W.E.K., & Knight, K. (2022). A psychometric reevaluation of the TCU criminal thinking scales (CTS), Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 61:3, 135-147, https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2022.2045528
Sease, T. B., Perkins, D. R., & Yang, Y. (2022). The Influence of Emotion Dysregulation on the Relationship between Emotional Abuse and Self-concealment among Romantic Partners. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(5), 646-659. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2021.1921088
Springer, S.A., Nijhawan, A.E., Knight, K., Kuo, I., Di Paola, A., Schlossberg, E., Frank, C.A., Sanchez, M., Pankow, J., Proffitt, R.P., Lehman, W., Pulitzer, Z., Thompson, K., Violette, S., Harding, K.K., & ACTION Cooperative Group (2022). Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial comparing two linkage models for HIV prevention and treatment in justice-involved persons. BMC Infect Dis 22, 380, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07354-x
Wiese, A.L., Sease, T.B., Knight, D.K., & Knight, K. (2022) Analyses of the TCU drug screen 5: using an item response theory model with a sample of juvenile justice youth, Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/10509674.2022.2128153
Yang, Y. (2022). The association of daily stressors and daily emotions to daily optimism: The role of emotion differentiation. Journal of Individual Differences. 43(4), 216–227. https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000375
2021
Adams, Z. W., Taylor, B. G., Flanagan, E., Kwon, E., Johnson-Kwochka, A. V., Elkington, K. S., Becan, J. E., & Aalsma, M. C. (2021). Opioid Use Disorder Stigma, Discrimination, and Policy Attitudes in a National Sample of U.S. Young Adults. Journal of Adolescent Health. 69 (2), 321- 328. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.12.142
Gassen, J., White, J. D., Peterman, J. L., Mengelkoch, S., Leyva, R. P. P., Prokosch, M. L., Eimerbrink, M. J., Brice, K., Cheek, D. J., Boehm, G. W., & Hill, S. E. (2021). Sex differences in the impact of childhood socioeconomic status on immune function. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-10.
Knight, D. K., Becan, J. E., Olson, D., Davis, N. P., Jones, J., Wiese, A., Carey, P., Howell, D., & Knight, K. (2021). Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN): The TCU research hub. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 1
(5). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547221000167
Knight, D.K., Yang, Y., Joseph, E.D., Tinius, E., Young, S., Shelley, L., Cross, D.R., & Knight, K. (2021). Preventing opioid use among justice involved youth as they transition to adulthood: Leveraging safe adults (LeSA) protocol paper. BMC Public Health. 21(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12127-3
Lehman, W. E. K., Pankow, J., Muiruri, R., Joe, G. W., & Knight, K. (2021). An Evaluation of StaySafe, a tablet app to improve health risk decision making among people under community supervision. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 130, 108480.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547221002063
Muiruri, M., Pankow, J., Bonnette, B., Goldberg, G., Knight, K., & Lehman, W. E. (2021). Methodological considerations for conducting research in correctional settings: A field perspective. IBR technical report https://ibr.tcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/METHODOLOGICAL-CONSIDERATIONS.docx-04_16_2021.pdf
Papamalis, F. E., Dritsas, I., & Knight, K. (2021). The Role of Personality Functioning on Early Drop out in Outpatient Substance Misuse Treatment. Substance Use & Misuse, 56 (8), 1119–1136. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10826084.2021.1908358
Rhine, E., & Lux, J. L. (2021). Changing Ohio corrections. Victims & Offenders, 16(7), 950-966. DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2021.1970668 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15564886.2021.1970668?scroll=top&needAccess=true
Stearns, E. A. & Yang, Y. (2021). Women’s peer to peer support inside a jail support group. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02654075211030333
Taweh, N., Schlossberg, E., Frank, C., Nijhawan, A., Kuo, I., Knight, K., & Springer, S. A. (2021). Linking criminal justice-involved individuals to HIV, HepatitisC, and opioid use disorder prevention and treatment services upon release to the community: Progress, gaps, and future directions. International Journal of Drug Policy, online, 103283. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395921001894
Wasserman, G. A., McReynolds L. S., Taxman, F., Belenko, S., Elkington, K. S., Robertson, A., Dennis, M. L., Knight, D. K., Knudsen, H. K., Dembo, R., Ciarleglio, A., Wiley, T. A. (2021). The missing link(age): Multilevel contributors to service uptake failure in youths on community justice supervision. Psychiatric Services. online. https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/epub/10.1176/appi.ps.202000163
Welsh, W. N., Dembo, R., Lehman, W. E., Bartkowski, J. P., Hamilton, L., Leukefeld, C. G., & Wiley, T. (2021). Critical Factors Influencing Interorganizational Relationships Between Juvenile Probation and Behavioral Health Agencies. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research. 48, 233–249. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10488-020-01066-7
Yang, Y., Li, M., & Lin, H-C. (2021). Parental psychological control, social capital, substance use, and driving under the influence among college students: sex differences. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02036-9
Yang, Y., & Perkins, D. R. (2021) Association between childhood adversity and criminal thinking: the role of attachment, Psychology, Crime & Law, 27(8), 796-814, DOI: 10.1080/1068316X.2020.1850724 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1068316X.2020.1850724?scroll=top&needAccess=true
Technical Reports
Muiruri, M., Pankow, J., Bonnette, B., Goldberg, G., Knight, K., & Lehman, W. E. K. (2021).
Methodological considerations for conducting research in correctional settings. IBR
Technical Report, https://ibr.tcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/METHODOLOGICAL-CONSIDERATIONS.docx-04_16_2021.pdf
2020
Becan, J. E., Fisher, J. H., Johnson, I. D., Bartkowski, J. P., Seaver, R., Gardner, S. K., Aarons G. A., Renfro, T. L., Muiruri, R., Blackwell, L., Piper, K. N., Wiley, T. A., & Knight, D. K. (2020). Improving substance use services for juvenile justice-involved youth: Complexity of process improvement plans in a large-scale multi-site study. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 47(4), 501-514. doi: 10.1007/s10488-019-01007-z
Bennett, J. B., Lind, B. D., Reynolds, S., & Lehman, W. E. K. (2020). Building prevention for the workplace: An integral and process-oriented approach. In Designing evidence-based public health and prevention programs (pp. 221–241). New York: Rutledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Elkington, K. S., Robertson, A. A., Knight, D. K., Gardner, S. K., Funk, R. R., Dennis, M. L., Oser, C., & DiClemente, R. (2020). HIV/STI Service Delivery Within Juvenile Community Supervision Agencies: A National Survey of Practices and Approaches to Moving High-Risk Youth Through the HIV Care Cascade. AIDS patient care and STDs, 34(2), 72-80. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/apc.2019.0157
Elkington, K. S., Spaulding, A., Gardner, S., Knight, D., Belenko, S., Becan, J. E., Robertson, A. A., Oser, C., & DiClemente, R. (2020). A system-level intervention to encourage collaboration between juvenile justice and public health agencies to promote HIV/STI testing. AIDS Education Prevention, 32(4), 337-355. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2020.32.4.337
Huang, S., Gardner, S., Piper, K. N., Coleman, A. S., Becan, J. E., Robertson, A. A., & Elkington, K. S. (2020). Bridging Systems to Implement HIV/STI Programming Within the Juvenile Justice System: Strengths and Challenges of a Local Change Team Approach. AIDS Education and Prevention, 32(5), 432-453.
Moullin, J. C., Dickson, K. S., Stadnick, N. A., Becan, J. E., Wiley, T., Phillips, J., Hatch, M., & Aarons, G. A. (2020). Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework. In Handbook on Implementation Science. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788975988/9781788975988.00009.xml
Prashad, S., Hammonds, R. P., Wiese, A. L., Milligan, A. L., & Filbey, F. M. (2020). Sex-related differences in subjective, but not neural, cue-elicited craving response in heavy cannabis users. Drug and alcohol dependence, 209, 107931.
Robertson, A. A., Fang, Z., Weiland, D., Joe, G., Gardner, S., Dembo, R., McReynolds, L., Dickson, M., Pankow, J., Dennis, M., & Elkington, K. (2020). Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Youth: Findings From JJ-TRIALS. Criminal Justice and Behavior, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0093854820922891
Wiese, A. L. (2020). Analyses of the TCU Drug Screen 5: Using an Item Response Theory Model with a Sample of Juvenile Justice Youth (Texas Christian University). https://repository.tcu.edu/bitstream/handle/116099117/39887/27961338.pdf?sequence=1
Yang, Y. (2020). Aggression and somatic symptoms: the role of emotion regulation and distress tolerance. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 27, 466–474. Doi: 10.1007/s12529-020-09885-6
Yang, Y. (2020). Daily stressor, daily resilience, and daily somatization: The role of trait aggression. Personality and Individual Differences, 165, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110141
Yang, Y., Perkins, D.R. & Stearns, A.E. (2020). “I Started to Feel Better now”: Qualitative Findings from Client Narratives on Early Recovery in Inpatient Substance Use Treatment. Int J Ment Health Addiction 18, 1048–1066
Full Archive
Full Publications Archive (1972 – 2025)
For earlier publications, view the complete archive:
Featured Presentation
The Noble Quest Against Addiction: Research and Resources for Corrections
Knight, K. (2025, September). The Noble Quest Against Addiction: Research and Resources for Corrections. Invited keynote presentation for the 2005 Texas Association of Addiction Professionals Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Impact Summary
This keynote highlights the growing challenges related to addiction within the criminal justice system and the pressing need for evidence-based approaches. Dr. Knight presents research on treatment effectiveness, screening tools, and system-level strategies to improve outcomes for incarcerated and justice-involved individuals. The talk emphasizes practical resources and reforms that can help correctional agencies better address substance use disorders and support long-term recovery.
Presentations
2025
Knight, K. (2025, September). The Noble Quest Against Addiction: Research and Resources for Corrections. Invited keynote presentation for the 2005 Texas Association of Addiction Professionals Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Castillo, R., Ghafoor, S., Sease, T., & Knight, K. (2025, October 9). Leveraging AI to Uncover Strengths: A Qualitative Study on Reintegration Success for Justice-Involved Individuals. SWACJ: “Educating, Recruiting, and Retaining the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Professionals,” Fort Worth, TX.
Ghafoor, S., Castillo, R., Sease, T., & Knight, K. (2025, October 9). Hostility as a Prospective Mediator of the Relationship Between Treatment Engagement and Decision Making for People in Court-Mandated Substance Use Treatment. SWACJ: “Educating, Recruiting, and Retaining the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Professionals,” Fort Worth, TX.
Olabisi, E., Preston, B., Sease, T., Becan, J., & Knight, K. (2025, October 9). High-Risk Partners, High Risk Outcomes—A Study of Women’s HIV Vulnerability After Incarceration. SWACJ: “Educating, Recruiting, and Retaining the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Professionals,” Fort Worth, TX.
Preston, B., Olabisi, E., Gentea, F., Becan, J., Wood, C., & Knight, K. (2025, October 9). Bridging the Gap: Using Provider Mapping to Improve Treatment Linkage for Justice-Involved Individuals with Substance Use Disorders. SWACJ: “Educating, Recruiting, and Retaining the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Professionals,” Fort Worth, TX.
Villaire, S., Hastings, S., Carey, P. D., Proffitt, R. P., & Knight, K. (2025, November 13). From the Beauty Shop to the Clinic: Findings from the Beauty Shop Pilot Study on HIV Prevention for Women of Color. Inter-CFAR Collaboration on HIV Research in Women Symposium: “Promoting Balanced Choices in HIV Prevention and Care for Women,” Virtual via EPB. https://cfar.globalhealth.harvard.edu/calendar_event/inter-cfar-hiv-research-in-women-working-group-virtual-symposium-promoting-balanced-choices-in-hiv-prevention-and-care-for-women/
2024
Thomas Sease & Cathy Cox. (2024, February). State of Surrender: A novel and distinct predictor of psychological well-being. Society of Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, CA.
Jennifer Becan, Thomas Sease, Carly Marincasiu, Anthea Ayebaze, Danica Knight, & Kevin Knight. (2024, March). Implementation of the Substance Use and Health Risk Intervention (SUHRI) for Youth on Probation. Joint Meeting on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery, Baltimore, MD.
Jennifer Becan, Yang Yang, Jennifer Pankow, Randi Proffitt, Amanda Weise, S Doherty, & Kevin Knight. (2024, April). Using Academic-Criminal Legal Health Partnerships to Build Inner and Outer System Capacity for Promoting Health Risk Reduction at Touchpoints along the Sequential Intercept Model. Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH) Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Chelsea Wood, Jennifer Becan, Carly Marincasiu, & Kevin Knight. (2024, April). The Opioid-Treatment Linkage Model: Tools to Enhance System Improvement. Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH) Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Jennifer Becan, Chelsea Wood, Pamela Carey, Amanda Weise, Dona Howell, D Olson, Noah Painter-Davis, Danica Knight, & Kevin Knight. (2024, June). Using Implementation Strategies to Close Service Linkage Gaps: TCU Hub. JCOIN Steering Committee Meeting, Bethesda, MD.
Yang Yang, Erin Razuri, & Lillyan Shelley. (2024, June). Using a dyadic analysis to examine the association between family substance use history, attachment, and substance use among youth involved in the legal system and their primary caregivers. 86th Annual Conference of the Problems on Drug Dependence, Montreal, Canada.
Kevin Knight & Jennifer Becan. (2024, July). Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) TCU Hub Update. International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) 38th Congress, Barcelona, Spain.
Kevin Knight, Wayne Lehman, Amanda Weise, Thomas Sease, & Sabrina Roberson. (2024, August). Federal Bureau of Prisons Anger Management Program Evaluation. Meeting with Federal Bureau of Prisons, Office of Research & Evaluation.
Pamela Carey, Amanda Weise, Jennifer Becan, & Kevin Knight. (2024, September). Breaking Barriers: Collaborative Solutions for Post-Incarceration Health Changes. Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP) Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Thomas Sease. (2024a, September). All Appetitive All of the Time (AAT): A Novel Approach Teaching, Supervising, and Mentoring in Psychology. Association of Behavioral Analysis International Conference, Washington DC.
Jennifer Becan, Brooke Preston, Amanda Weise, Chelsea Wood, Pamela Carey, K Hernandez, & Kevin Knight. (2024, October). Impact of System Improvement Preparation on Multi-Agency Continuity and Collaboration. Addiction Health Services Research Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Thomas Sease. (2024b, October). Understanding Substance Use, the Impact of Stigma and Working with People with a Substance Use Disorder. Arizona Prosecutor Diversion Annual Conference, Tuscon, AZ.
Jennifer Becan, Chelsea Wood, Pamela Carey, Amanda Sease, D Olson, Noah Painter-Davis, & Kevin Knight. (2024, December). Implementation Strategy Prioritization within Criminal Legal-Health Provider Partnerships to Support Substance Use Service Linkages. 17th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, Arlington, VA.
2023
Howell, D., Williams, A., Parrack, J., Garnett, J., Becan, J., Olson, D., & Ross, J. (2023, January). Panel Regarding Initiatives for Justice-involved Individuals at the State and National Levels. Presented at the Illinois Certification Board Spring Conference, Itasca, IL.
Knight, D. K., Yang, Y., & Shelley, L. T. (2023, April). HEAL Prevention Cooperative Annual Meeting—Texas Christian University: Leveraging Safe Adults (LeSA) [Conference presentation]. NIH HEAL Initiative: Preventing Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adolescents and Young Adults, Washington, D.C.
Nijhawan, A., Pulitzer, Z., Torres, B., Noreen, N., Schultheis, A., Frank, C., Colon, R., Brooks, R., Proffitt, R., Pankow, J., Bennett, A., Salyards, M., Kuo, I., Knight, K., & Springer, S. (2023, April). Indications for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in a justice-involved population: Intersection of substance use and sexual risk. Presented at the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Proffitt, R., Nijhawan, A., Springer, S., & Knight, K. (2023, April). Early lessons learned from a multisite randomized controlled trial evaluating methods to improve linkage to HIV prevention and treatment services for persons with opioid and stimulant use involved in the justice system: Addressing risk through Community Treatment for Infectious Diseases and Opioid Use Disorder Now among justice-involved populations (ACTION). Presented at the 16th Annual Academic and Health Policy Conference on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH), Raleigh, NC.
Shelley, L. T., Joseph, E. D., Yang, Y., & Knight, D. K. (2023, May). Understanding the implementation process of trauma-informed care among juvenile justice facilities through the lens of the Trust-Based Relational Intervention. Presented at the Society of Prevention Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Yang, Y., Joseph, E. D., Shelley, L. T., & Knight, D. K. (2023, May). Preventing the initiation and escalation of opioid use among youth involved in the legal system: A feasibility study. Presented at the Society of Prevention Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Webster, M., Fallin-Bennett, A., Tillson, M., Oser, C., Becan, J., Knight, K., & Staton, M. (2023, June). Assessing recovery coach roles and responsibilities in substance use recovery. Presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
Yang, Y., & Knight, D. K. (2023, June). Testing the validity of novel substance use involvement measures with prospectively collected data among youth involved in the legal system. Presented in a panel titled Process and Evidence of Prospective Harmonization of Novel Outcomes Measures of Substance Involvement for Opioids, Cannabis, and Alcohol in HEAL Prevention Cooperative Studies at the Society of Prevention Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Yang, Y., & Knight, D. K. (2023, June). Association between social exposure and substance use among youth involved in the legal system. Presented at the Conference on Problems of Drug Dependence Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Becan, J., Wiese, A., Belenko, S., Joseph, V., Campos, S., & Scogin, H. (2023, August). Identifying gaps in connecting underserved populations to community-based substance use services using needs assessment exercises among justice-provider partnerships. Presented at the International Community Justice Association (ICJA) Research Conference, Cleveland, OH.
Joseph, V., Painter Davis, N., Becan, J., & Knight, K. (2023, August). Identifying multiple forms of stigma: Findings from needs assessments across New Mexico. Presented at the International Community Justice Association (ICJA) Research Conference, Cleveland, OH.
Knight, K. (2023, August). Best practices for treatment and community supervision of the substance-using criminal population. Invited presentation given at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix, AZ.
Wiese, A., Becan, J., Wood, C., Carey, P., Howell, D., Stein, B., Guadagno, L., Gentea, F., Ayebaze, A., & Knight, K. (2023, August). Overview of the needs assessment process across three JCOIN research hubs. Presented at the International Community Justice Association (ICJA) Research Conference, Cleveland, OH.
Knight, K. (2023, September). Addiction research. Invited plenary presentation given at KETHEA, Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals, Athens, Greece.
Becan, J., Wiese, A., Wood, C., Carey, P., Marinasiu, C., & Knight, K. (2023, October). The TCU clinical trial within the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network: Workgroup approaches for promoting service access improvement. Presented at the Addiction Health Services Research Conference (AHSR), New York City, NY.
Becan, J., Wiese, A., Wood, C., Howell, D., Chavez, R., Painter Davis, N., Olson, D., Knight, D., & Knight, K. (2023, December). Strategies for enhancing collaborative practice in criminal-legal settings: Lessons learned from the JCOIN TCU Hub. Presented at the 16th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, Washington, D.C.
2022
Knight, K. (2022, February). Substance use and criminal behavior. Invited presentation for KETHEA, Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals, Athens, Greece.
Fullbright, H., Coad, M., Dills, L., Maggiore, P., Joseph, E. D., Pankow, J., & Wiese, A. L. (2022, April). The mediating role of self-esteem on the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and anxiety. Poster Presentation at the Texas Christian University Student Research Symposium, Fort Worth, Texas.
Inaganti, V., Preston, B., Williams, A., Vu, K. H. B., Villaire, S., Pankow, J., & Wiese, A. L. (2022, April). Examining parental alcohol use and peer relationships as predictors of substance use severity. Poster Presentation at the Texas Christian University Student Research Symposium, Fort Worth, Texas.
Pavlova, A., Judd, L., Ross, M., Sease, T. B., Pankow, J., & Wiese, A. L. (2022, April). Demographic variables in the prediction of criminal thinking. Poster Presentation at the Texas Christian University Student Research Symposium, Fort Worth, Texas.
Preston, B., Becan, J., Lux, J., Wood, C., Wiese, A. L., & Knight, K. (2022, April). Development of the Opioid-Treatment Linkage Model Resource Guide to strengthen parole officers’ role in promoting linkage to community services for individuals involved in the justice system. Poster Presentation at the Texas Christian University Student Research Symposium, Fort Worth, Texas.
Webster, M., Fallin-Bennett, A., Tillson, M., Oser, C., Becan, J. Knight, K. & Staton, M. (2022, June). Assessing recovery coach roles and responsibilities in substance use recovery. Poster presentation at The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) 84th Annual Scientific Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
Knight, D., Yang, Y., Razuri, E., & Becker, E. (2022, July). A Trauma-Informed Approach to Preventing Opioid Use Among Justice-Involved Youth. Presentation at the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) 2022 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
Knight, K. (2022, July). Addressing the Opioid Epidemic among Justice-Involved Individuals: The TCU Research Hub. Invited presentation at The International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) 37th Congress, Lyon, France.
Knight, D., Joe, G. & Belenko, S. (2022, July). The Effectiveness of an Enhanced Implementation Approach to Increase Substance Use Service Receipt among Justice-involved Youth. Invited presentation at The International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) 37th Congress, Lyon, France.
Knight, D. (2022, July). Preventing Opioid Use among Justice-Involved Youth as they Transition to Adulthood: Leveraging Safe Adults (LeSA). Invited presentation at The International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) 37th Congress, Lyon, France.
2021
Wiese, A. L. (2021, March). Avoidance Self-Efficacy: Personal Indicators of Risky Sex and Substance Use among At-Risk Youth. Presentation at Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry (BBC): Translational Research in Addiction.
Becan, J. E., Wiese, A. L., & Lehman, W. (2021, April). Preliminary Efficacy for the Mapping Approaches for Implementation Transfer (MAP-IT) in Promoting Agency Selection of Implementation Strategies. Poster Presentation at the Academic & Health Policy Conference on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH).
Knight, D. K., (April, 2021). Using the Cascade of Care to Change Complex Systems. Cascade of Care and Practical Applications, Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN; Virtual).
Shelley, L., Hunsley, J., & Knight, D. K. (2021, April). Behavioral and Relationship Changes in Adoptive Families following Trauma-Informed Camp Intervention. Southwestern Psychological Association (Virtual).
Wiese, A. L., Sease, T. B., Knight, K., & Knight, D. K. (2021, April). The Validity of the TCU Drug Screen 5 for Identifying Substance Use Disorder among Justice-Involved Youth. Poster Presentation at the Academic & Health Policy Conference on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH).
Becan, J., Joseph, E., Young, S., Crawley, R., Knight, D. (2021, June). Development of the Family Assessment, Motivation, and Linkage (FAMLI) Intervention. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, virtual.
Knight, D. K., (2021, June). Using the Cascade of Care to Change Complex Systems. Council of State Governments – Juvenile Justice, Research Division Speaker Series (Virtual).
Ridenour, T., Hussong, A., Knight, D. K., Ahrens, K., Cruden, G., & Kominsky, T. (2021, June). Data Harmonization across Prevention Intervention Trials: HEAL Prevention Cooperative. Society for Prevention Research, 29th Annual Meeting (Virtual).
Yang, Y., Shelley, L. T., Joseph, E. D., Tinius, E., Young, S., Knight, D. K. (2021, June). Feasibility of a pilot study on a prevention intervention for opioid use among justice-involved youth and their families. Annual Conference for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (83rd CPDD Annual Conference), June 21-24, virtual conference.
Knight, K. (2021, September). Institute of Behavioral Research. Presentation made to the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Texas Christian University
Knight, D. K., Yang, Y., Tinius, E., & Young, S. (2021, October). Adaptation and feasibility of a trauma-informed intervention to leverage relationships in preventing opioid use among Justice-involved youth. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
Knight, K. (2021, December). Quality Outcomes for Correctional Treatment. Presentation to the Gateway Foundation Board of Directors, Chicago, IL.
2020
Knight, D. K. (2020, January). Novel Approaches to Preventing and Addressing Substance Use among Justice-involved Youth. Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Youth Special Interest Group (Online).
Becan, J. (2020, March). Improving Motivation for Substance Use Treatment in Justice-involved Youth using Tablet and Group-based Interventions. NIDA Clinical Trials Network Youth Special Interest Group (SIG). Invited Live Broadcast Webinar.
Knight, D. K. (2020, June). Four Challenges for Supporting Families with Juvenile Justice-involved Youth. New York City Family Court Judges (shared electronically due to COVID-19).
Knight, D. K. (2020, November). Preventing Opioid Use Among Justice-Involved Youth as They Transition to Adulthood: Leveraging Safe Adults (LeSA). HEAL Prevention Initiative Cooperative (HPC) Annual Meeting (Virtual).
Ridenour, T., Husson, A., Knight, D. K. Haggerty, K., Aarons, K. (2020, November). Common Opioid Measures. (LeSA). HEAL Prevention Initiative Cooperative (HPC) Annual Meeting (Virtual).
Becan, J., Wiese, A., Lehman, W., Sease, T., Joseph, E. (2020, December). Mapping Approaches to Prepare for Implementation Transfer (MAP-IT): a randomized pilot study of an organizational intervention to promote successful implementation of best practices. Presentation at the 13th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, virtual.
Hopper, K., Proffitt Leyva, R.P., & Parks, K. December 2020. A One Hour Tour of Human Behavior: “Ancient Creatures in a Modern World”. Webinar hosted by the National Library of Medicine. Invited talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7hQHCvTkkA&feature=youtu.be
Full Archive
Full Presentations Archive (1993 – 2025)
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