Research

Current Projects

CALL PROGRAM EVALUATION

The Community Assistance and Life Liaison (CALL) program involves a partnership between the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) and the Gulf Coast Jewish Family Community Services (JFCS) to divert non-violent and non-crime-related calls to human services professionals instead of law enforcement. As part of this, Dr. Edelyn Verona, center leader Dr. Karen Liller, and clinical doctoral student Alora McCarty, will conduct an independent process evaluation of the CALL program that focuses on equitable access and implementation. This evaluation is funded by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg (FHSP).

PARC STUDY, PASCO COUNTY JAIL

The Psychological Assessment of Risk and Criminality (PARC) project, which represents a collaborative effort between the research labs of Dr. Edelyn Verona and Dr. Bryanna Fox, aims to identify the psychological risk factors and needs among those in a county jail, improve the accuracy of risk assessments, implement new services, and help address recidivism due to lack of mental health and substance abuse treatment.

NIJ REENTRY SERVICES & RCT EVALUATION

This National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded project, led by Dr. Edelyn Verona and Dr. Bryanna Fox, serves to implement new evidenced-based treatments, case management, and reentry services, using the risk-needs-responsivity model, for jail inmates in the Pasco County Jail using a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The impact of these interventions will be evaluated on potential reductions in future offending, and improvement in well-being.

POLICING REFORM & EVALUATION

This project, stemming from Mayor Jane Castor's Task Force on Policing in 2020, aims to implement and evaluate new evidenced-based policing reforms and programs aimed at addressing community concerns in the Tampa Police Department. Led by Dr. Bryanna Fox, this project is supported through generous donations from all of Tampa's professional sports teams including the Buccaneers, Lightning, Rays, and Rowdies.