Impact of an Educational Workshop on Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions of People with Justice System Involvement

The United States has the highest number of people per capita in detention centers when compared to all other nations in the world. Stigma exists against people with justice system involvement, resulting in discrimination by healthcare providers and students and ultimately health inequities. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to impact occupational therapy students’ (N=25) knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the criminal justice system and people with justice system involvement. The workshop included education, a panel of people with lived experience, and an occupational therapist with experiences in the criminal justice system. Significant changes were seen in the number of correct responses to 10 out of 14 knowledge questions and changes in 13 out of 20 statements related to beliefs and attitudes. Qualitative themes included: shifts in perspectives influenced by stigma, power of lived experience, and need for responsive curriculum. Findings indicate that students are impacted by stigma about people with justice system involvement but that they are receptive to learning and reconsidering beliefs, especially when exposed to people with lived experience. This has the potential to apply to other historically marginalized populations, which may enhance student empathy and encourage interest in emerging practice areas.