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ABSTRACT
Collaborative partnerships between criminal justice agencies and universities offer several benefits for all involved. This article describes an interdisciplinary researcher-practitioner partnership between the Will County Problem-Solving Courts and the University of St. Francis’s Departments of Criminal & Social Justice and Social Work. Collaborators reflect on the mutually beneficial relationship that produced policy-informed research, new internships, and enriched classroom experiences. The collaboration also encountered challenges such as staff turnover, COVID-19, and access to data. Finally, we encourage others to engage in collaborative efforts and provide recommendations to inform future partnerships on building and sustaining researcher-practitioner collaborations.
Disclosure statement
The findings in this report reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official positions of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
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Notes on contributors
Stacy Dewald
Stacy Dewald is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She was an assistant professor in Criminal and Social Justice at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois during the partnership with the Will County Problem-Solving Courts. She has a PhD in Criminology, Law, and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to joining academia, she worked as a legal investigator with a Public Defender’s office. Dr. Dewald’s research interests include policing, sexual assault, and problem-solving courts.
Laura Honegger
Laura Honegger is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL, USA. Her areas of research include the intersection of the criminal justice and mental health systems, evidence-based criminal justice diversion programs, mental health disparities, and family violence. Prior to working in academia, she provided counseling and case management to individuals with serious mental health and substance use issues who were in frequent contact with the justice system. Dr. Honegger is a licensed clinical social worker and is a co-founder and co-director of the Interdisciplinary Research on Justice Initiative.
Mitch Crandall
Mitch Crandall began his career as an Adult Probation Officer in Stephenson County, Illinois before moving to the Will County Problem-Solving Courts program where he has held several positions including Data and Assessment Specialist, Case Manager, and Grant Coordinator. Mitch received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University, a Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from College of DuPage, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Aurora University.
Jaclyn Hilderbrand Sopcic
Jaclyn Hilderbrand Sopcic is an Assistant State’s Attorney in Grundy County, Illinois. For 4.5 years she was the Lead Prosecutor for Will County’s Felony Problem Solving Courts. ASA Sopcic earned her Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and her Juris Doctor Degree at Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is passionate about research-based advocacy for substance use disorders, problem-solving courts, and peer recovery support specialists.
Scott DuBois
Scott DuBois serves as the Problem Solving Court Coordinator for the Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois. He completed his Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology and Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler University in Chicago, Illinois.