Technological Innovations in Forensic and Correctional Mental Health: An Introduction to the Special Issue

• Author: Madeleine A. Kirschstein,Ashley B. Batastini,Jay P. Singh,Marc Graf
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00938548221141610
• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Date: 01 February 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2023, Vol. 50, No. 2, February 2023, 167 –174.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548221141610

Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

© 2022 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

167

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN FORENSIC

AND CORRECTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH

An Introduction to the Special Issue

MADELEINE A. KIRSCHSTEIN

University of Basel

University Psychiatric Clinics Basel

Office of Corrections and Rehabilitation

ASHLEY B. BATASTINI

University of Memphis

JAY P. SINGH

University of Lincoln

Publication Academy Inc.

MARC GRAF

University of Basel

University Psychiatric Clinics Basel

Although research on e-mental health in criminal justice settings continues to accumulate, the evidence base on this topic

remains limited. In recent years, technological innovations have increasingly entered forensic and correctional mental health

care, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated their diffusion. The present special issue aims to promote evidence-based

best practices and inform clinical decision-making in criminal justice settings by presenting recent developments and findings

relevant to the use of e-mental health. In this introduction, we summarize the eight articles in the special issue and discuss

directions for future research.

Keywords: e-mental health; technology; forensic; corrections; criminal justice

The first investigations on the use of technology in forensic and correctional mental

health date back more than two decades. The emerging literature with criminal justice

populations focused mainly on the use of telecommunication technologies (Brodey et al.,

2000; Cervenka et al., 1996), computerized assessments (Paperny, 1997; Wasserman et al.,

2002), and video games (Gooch & Living, 2004; Resnick et al., 1986; Sherer, 1990). Since

that time, the number of studies in this area has increased considerably, with four systematic

AUTHORS’ NOTE: We have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article

should be addressed to Madeleine A. Kirschstein, Forschung & Entwicklung, Justizvollzug & Wiedereingliederung,

Hohlstrasse 552, P.O. Box, 8090 Zürich, Switzerland; e-mail: madeleine.kirschstein@ji.zh.ch.

1141610CJBXXX10.1177/00938548221141610Criminal Justice and BehaviorKirschstein et al. / Technological Innovations in Mental Health

research-article2022