Our Services - Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice
The Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice (CHRCJ) was formed in 2003 and arose out of the need to establish a centre of excellence to conduct quantitative research in the areas of prisoner health, and health matters that impact on, and are impacted on by, the criminal justice system. The CHRCJ is the only organisation in the world devoted to the study of prisoner health issues; its work is recognised at the national and international level.
The CHRCJ collaborates with a number of agencies on research projects - e.g the University of New South Wales, the National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. The Centre has a memorandum of understanding with the University of Sydney.
The CHRCJ has an independent Board of Management; a core staff of twelve researchers, and works closely with the Nursing Professorial Unit. The CHRCJ undertakes the secretariat for the Justice Health Human Research and Ethics Committee which is responsible for reviewing the ethical implications of all proposed health research projects in the NSW criminal justice system.
The Centre is currently engaged in a broad range of research activities in the areas of mental health, infectious diseases, injury surveillance, smoking cessation, and adolescent health. Centre staff are key investigators in three National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grants, one industry grant and one Australian Research Council grant. Additionally, one Professional Development Grant from the NHMRC has been granted to a senior Centre staff-member.
Justice Health - the Inmate Health Surveys of 1996 and 2001, and the 2003 NSW Young People in Custody Health Survey, has conducted three landmark studies. The information provided by these surveys has been invaluable to the planning process for future health services for NSW prisoners and juvenile detainees. Additionally, it has also supported numerous funding and advocacy initiatives of the Service.
In 2004 the Centre co-ordinated the first national prisoner health research project - the National Prison Entrants' Blood Borne Virus Pilot Survey; New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia and Western Australian prisoners participated in this important study.
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