Description
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in criminal justice settings as an important public health problem. With intent to attend to this complex problem, research has consistently and strongly advocated for increased awareness of TBI in criminal justice populations due to the ever-increasing prevalence rates (e.g., 25-87%) and, importantly, the indicated implications for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with a history of TBI’s.
During this MHS Public Safety Webinar, Dr. Danielle Ciccone-Coutre, PsyD, ABPP, will provide a general overview of TBI to promote the recognition of trauma and its potential structural impacts on the brain. Identification of typical versus atypical recovery trajectories will be explored with a comparison made of general and criminal justice populations. Potential short and long-term functional impairments will be discussed.
Our presenter will also provide a review of the extant literature on TBIs in criminal justice, with specific attention paid to those individuals with a history of sex offenses. Finally, Dr. Ciccone-Coutre will suggest aspirational yet practical steps to promote the consideration of this oftentimes overlooked health issue by highlighting its importance as a responsivity issue (based on the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model).
Presenter Biographies
Dr. Danielle Ciccone-Coutre, PsyD, ABPP, is a Board-Certified Rehabilitation Psychologist. She currently serves as the Chief Regional Psychologist for the Department of Corrections (DOC)/Division of Community Corrections (DCC) in Southeastern Wisconsin. The focus of her career has included predominantly work with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder across the developmental lifespan. She is committed to the education and advocacy of TBI to promote awareness and implement change to support survivors, and those involved in their care.
Dr. Ciccone-Coutre spearheads and supervises research of TBI and interrelated disabilities in the Veteran’s Administration. She is also collaborating on research in the DOC/DCC, with interest in the role of TBI, neuro/rehabilitation psychology on criminal behavior. She serves as on the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin. She also maintains a private psychology practice in northern Illinois.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, you will be able to…
- Recognize and describe how trauma impacts structures of the brain (e.g., site and type of injury with possible resulting impairments in brain function)
- Identify examples of broad categories of long-term impairments often seen after a traumatic brain injury
- Describe the prevalence of brain injury generally versus the criminal justice population
- Identify practical tools, strategies, and resources to support this population