Policy Changes to Improve Service Access: Best Practices for Researchers Engaging With Criminal Justice Partners

The Texas Christian University Hub of the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network Project includes a partnership with state criminal justice (CJ) agencies with the goal of impacting state- and local-level policies and practices that will lead to increased access to and retention in community-based substance use treatment services among parole clients. This article outlines how we successfully fostered policy changes and includes a five-step process for how researchers can bridge the gap between research and CJ agencies to implement similar changes. This process included the use of various strategies to support the justice partners in their efforts to implement changes within their organization.