GRAND FORKS – The North Dakota State Penitentiary will begin implementing brain injury screening as part of resident orientation this month. This effort is part of a partnership between the state penitentiary and the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN) and stems from the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grant, a $550,000, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Our goal with this project is to increase awareness of brain injury within incarcerated populations,” said Rebecca Quinn, associate director of the Center for Rural Health in Grand Forks and principal investigator of NDBIN, in a news release. “Brain injury can easily go undiagnosed, so by implementing mandatory screening and education, we hope to help provide brain injury survivors with a better understanding of themselves, their behaviors and resources to help manage symptoms. With these resources available, our hope is that rates of recidivism will decrease.”

“We often talk about how brain injuries are not an excuse, but they could be part of the explanation,” said Andrea Watkins-Sailer, a resource facilitator at NDBIN, in the release. “That there may be actual physical damage to their brain, influencing their anger, impulsivity, vision, memory or depression. And when they learn that, that’s where change starts happening. We can give them hope with brain injury strategies and tools for their toolbox to use to address substance abuse, PTSD, etc.”

Residents who screen positive will have the opportunity to participate in Living Life Fully, a 10-week treatment group focused on brain injury recovery, including the intersection with criminal justice involvement, mental health and substance use. Residents may also be referred for one-on-one services with an NDBIN resource facilitator for individualized support.

“I feel that it is fantastic that the DOCR and NDBIN have teamed up to better assess the residents in the DOCR’s care and establish more care options while they are with us and when they return to our communities,” said Josh Hewson, case manager at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR).