skip to main content

Lauren Kois and the Collaborative Law and Social Sciences laboratory at the University of Alabama

  • Welcome
  • Dr. Kois
  • CLASS LAB
  • Research Assistants
  • Prospective Students
  • Additional Resources
  • News
  • Welcome
  • Dr. Kois
  • CLASS LAB
  • Research Assistants
  • Prospective Students
  • Additional Resources
  • News

Congrats Lauren Grove, Dr. King, Rachel B., Loumarie B., & Dr. Kois! They just had a paper published in Law and Human Behavior! This is Lauren G.'s first pub!!!!

12/5/2021

 
Picture
Title: Technology for Assessment and Treatment of Justice-Involved Youth: A Systematic Literature Review
​Abstract: Objective: We conducted a systematic literature review of e-mental health technologies in juvenile justice contexts. Hypotheses: Our exploratory research questions were as follows: First, what types of e-mental health exist for justice-involved youth, their caregivers, and juvenile justice professionals? Second, what are the characteristics of studies that have examined these technologies? Third, what have studies found about the effectiveness, reliability, or validity of e-mental health in treating and assessing juvenile justice populations? And fourth, what advantages and disadvantages exist for e-mental health use in juvenile justice? Method: We screened 759 articles and retained 36 for review. We included articles that investigated e-mental health for the assessment or treatment of justice-involved youth and their caregivers.We excluded technologies not directly related to assessment or treatment as well as samples of at-risk youth with no justice involvement. Results: We identified four types of e-mental health technologies: Interventions with technology-facilitated interpersonal communication (e.g., telehealth and mHealth), digitized intervention programs, simulation games, and computerized assessments. Most study designs were experimental/quasi-experimental or qualitative/descriptive, followed closely by repeated measures/pretest–posttest. A majority of evidence suggested that e-mental health technologies were potentially effective or valid for treatment and assessment, especially telehealth. Advantages included positive opinions of users, increased access to care, and efficiency; disadvantages included barriers to accessing technology, privacy concerns, and lack of clear effectiveness, reliability, or validity data. Conclusions: Although the available evidence for e-mental health for juvenile justice is promising, the current literature base appears generally underdeveloped and nuanced. Worthwhile future directions include continued development of technologies and more rigorously conducted studies to support further implementation of e-mental health for juvenile justice.
Public Significance Statement: E-mental health, and especially telehealth, has shown some potential as a set of strategies to increase justice-involved youths’ access to needed behavioral health care. However, such potential requires more rigorous empirical investigation, including greater attention to the risk for health disparities that may stem from inequitable access to or delivery of e-mental health.

Go LAB! CLASS had a symposium (with three CLASS papers!) and a separate talk accepted for presentation at AP-LS Denver in March!

11/29/2021

 
Picture
And how about them dawgs? We stan Kirby! #smartdawgs

The Southern Behavioral Health and Law Initiative (SBHLI) website is LIVE!

11/19/2021

 
Picture
Read all about the SBHLI here! 

Drs. Cox and Kois receive Sozosei funding to grow the University of Alabama's Southern Behavioral Health and Law Initiative (SBHLI) and facilitate 988 implementation!

11/4/2021

 
Picture
With Sozosei as their inaugural donor, Dr. Cox and Dr. Lauren Kois, Assistant Professor at The University of Alabama, founded the Southern Behavioral Health and Law Initiative, an interdisciplinary collaboration to promote equitable justice, improve outcomes for individuals at risk for involvement in the legal system, and support empirically based policy reform across the state. See the full press release here. 


RAs Anna, Emma, Beka, and Shelby conduct "The Resource Manual Project" for Tuscaloosa Police Department with Dr. Kois and Lt. Parker

10/31/2021

 
Picture
​Here's what Anna, the project PI, had to say!

Emma and I have spent the last two semesters working on this study. We learned how to construct succinct and detailed questions for the focus groups. Although we had questions prepared, the law enforcement officers (LEOs) were easily sidetracked leading us down a variety of topics and helping us gather rich information. We then spent time analyzing the responses to both the questions and the additional information the LEOs provided. The most challenging part of the project was analyzing data and figuring out how we could use the responses to improve the manual. Once we were able to analyze the responses, we have continued to learn about the research process as we write our  manuscript in preparation for submission. We will supervise junior lab members to build and revise the resource manual. This opportunity will thoroughly prepare us for our futures in graduate school.

Let's go HALEY! Dissertation proposed!

10/7/2021

 
Picture
Haley just passed her diss proposal! Her completely noneventful month will now continue, which will entail several weddings (including her own) and internship applications! NBD! How does she make it look so easy!?

congrats SHELBY! Dissertation defended!

8/17/2021

 
Picture
Shelby just passed her dissertation defense with flying colors. This is a huge feat because her project was no joke - a meta-analysis to identify prevalence of TBI among individuals in the criminal legal system! One member said that he was "wowing" while reading the document to the point that a family member asked what he was reading! A DISSERTATION! Shelby, we are very proud of you and hope that you are ready to celebrate. Ashley, who double-coded all of Shelby's studies, you also deserve a giant pat on the back!

Attend the Summit!

6/4/2021

 
Picture
Throughout the U.S., criminal justice and behavioral health stakeholders are allocating increasing attention, time, and resources to behavioral health crisis response and jail diversion. In January 2021, a team of stakeholders from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Police Department, Indian Rivers Behavioral Health, DCH North Harbor, and NorthStar EMS first joined with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to identify the Tuscaloosa community's barriers to much-needed crisis services, particularly for community members with serious behavioral health problems and contact with law enforcement, and to develop creative solutions to address these community-wide issues. Technical Assistance provided by SAMHSA has been invaluable and we are eager to further engage the community in this process. Complimentary parking and continental breakfast. The event will also be live streamed for those wishing to attend virtually. 
​

UA's Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Initiative (CJBHI) brings together researchers across the UA campus in areas related to criminal justice, policing, forensic mental health and health disparities, and public policy. With ALRI's support, the CJBHI is pleased to host this event for the Tuscaloosa community.

congrats TAYLOR! She is interning with Judge Brad Almond this summer!

5/9/2021

 
Picture

congrats GARETT! Our very first undergrad RA is off to the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Medicine!

5/3/2021

 
Picture

congrats ANNA! Anna was just elected President of UA's Psi Chi chapter!!!

5/1/2021

 
Picture

Congrats to our graduates! Garett! Jeniya! Beka! Marin! Jasmine! We appreciate you tremendously and know you will go far!

5/1/2021

 
Picture

As MARIN says, Woop Woop! MARIN will be joining the University of Denver's Forensic Psychology MA program this fall! Congrats, we are very proud and so excited for you!

4/15/2021

 
Picture

Congrats Sgt. Parker and Dr. Kois! They will be presenting a workshop, "Building a Competent Crisis Care System with SAMHSA in Tuscaloosa, AL," at the virtual NAMICon 2021!

4/9/2021

 
Picture

If you are undergraduate RA BEKA, you can do BOTH! Congrats to our resident Disney fan and future School Psych PhD, who accepted an offer from TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY!

4/8/2021

 
Picture

Congrats ANNA! Anna presented her review of Early Intervention Behavior Treatments (EIBT) for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the URCA conference!

4/1/2021

 
Picture

CONGRATS Dr. Cox, Honorary CLASS member Lauren Meaux, Dr. Kois, and Cassandra Jensen! They just had a new paper accepted for publication in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice! ALERT: This is CJ's FIRST PUB!!!!

3/24/2021

 
Picture
Title: Now see this? Forensic evaluator opinions regarding direct observation when evaluating competency to proceed
Authorship: Jennifer Cox, Lauren Meaux, Lauren Kois, Cassandra Jensen
​Abstract: 
Despite ample best practice recommendations for competency to proceed (CTP) evaluations, direct observation of defendant-attorney interactions is an unstudied methodological technique for assessing defendants’ abilities to assist and consult with their attorneys. This study surveyed 57 forensic evaluators regarding their history and opinions of direct observation as a component of CTP evaluations. Overall, results indicated the majority of forensic evaluators had engaged in direct observation on at least one occasion, with some practicing this approach in up to 85% of their evaluations. A minority endorsed or expressed concerns regarding this practice (e.g., third-party effects, violations of attorney-client privilege). Results of this study provide a preliminary indication of how evaluators perceive the potential utility and hazards of direct observation. In response, we offer a framework for approaching direct observation and highlight the need for additional research examining the impact of this methodological technique for CTP evaluations.

Congrats HALEY!!! What a rite of passage! Haley just had her first manuscript--as first author even!--accepted to Training and Education in Professional Psychology! In honor of her favorite show, Haley gets TWO celebratory GIFs.

3/23/2021

 
Picture
Picture
Title: Survey of Doctoral Internships in Psychology Offering Experience in Forensics and Corrections
Authors: Haley Potts, MA; Lauren Kois, PhD
Abstract: ​Background: Students with forensic/correctional interests seek out related doctoral internship sites, though often without clear, updated information on what these sites desire of applicants. Aim: To clarify student experiences and qualities most valued by these internships. Method: We identified internship sites reporting “forensic/correctional experience” via a public internship directory (N = 164). We gathered site information from directory pages and sent an online survey to the sites’ internship directors. Results: Internship directors (n = 57) preferred students with primarily generalist (rather than forensic) training. Applicant characteristics (e.g., flexibility and professionalism) were most impactful, followed by intervention and assessment experiences (especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and intelligence and personality testing). Cultural competency was deemed more important and research experience less important than in previous studies of general internships. Conclusions: Results are largely consistent with previous surveys, though some observed changes in training directors’ expectations appear to reflect changes in the field at large. Recommendations: Students with forensic/correctional interests should primarily seek generalist experiences with supplementary forensic training. Training should focus on fostering flexibility, openness, professionalism, and cultural competency as well as cognitive behavioral intervention, intelligence testing, and personality assessment.

Let's go TAYLOR, who was accepted into the Psychology Honors Program!!! Congrats!!!!

3/10/2021

 
Picture

Way to go EMMA, who was just accepted into the Psychology Honors Program! Congrats!

3/10/2021

 
Picture
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018

    Categories

    All
    Cassandra Jensen
    IAFMHS
    Leadership
    Student Acknowledgment
    Students Being Awesome

Contact Us

UA Logo
Accessibility | Equal Opportunity | UA Disclaimer | Site Disclaimer | Privacy |
Copyright © 2019 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 | (205) 348-6010
Website provided by the Center for Instructional Technology, Office of Information Technology