JCOIN Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement Core: Advancing the Translation and Use of Evidence in Criminal Justice and Health Settings

Abstract Background: Despite decades of research identifying effective approaches to prevent, identify, and treat substance use disorders (SUD), gaps persist between scientific discovery and utilization in routine practice, particularly within criminal legal systems (CLS). Contributing factors include: limited access to research findings, which are often published in technical and inaccessible formats; insufficient collaboration and trust between researchers and practitioners; research that is not relevant to real-world practice, where controlled studies don’t reflect the real-world context that practitioners face; and dissemination approaches to practitioners that are not tailored for the culture and climate of the organization or don’t match the skills of the staff. Practitioners and policymakers therefore need practical and tailored information that enables them to implement innovations while preserving the elements essential to their effectiveness. Methods: The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network’s (JCOIN) Coordination and Translation Center (CTC) was established to address these barriers and accelerate the translation of research into policy and practice. During JCOIN 1.0, the CTC’s Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement Core (DSEC) developed the stakeholder-engagement and dissemination infrastructure that supports this work. The Core cultivated networks of champions and trusted messengers through national practitioner and stakeholder advisory boards and maintained bidirectional communication channels connecting researchers and JCOIN leadership with practitioners, policymakers, community organizations, and people with lived experience. The DSEC identified field priorities, summarized research findings into digestible formats, co-developed educational products with community partners, and disseminated such products through various channels and networks. This article describes the DSEC’s stakeholder engagement, knowledge translation, and dissemination framework. Conclusion: By embedding stakeholder engagement, knowledge translation, implementation support, and dissemination within JCOIN, the DSEC strengthens the relevance, reach, and practical application of new research and evidence-based practices. This infrastructure advances JCOIN 2.0’s scientific and translational goals by sustaining feedback loops between research and practice, extending participation beyond the funded network, and supporting the adoption, implementation, and sustainment of evidence-informed policies, programs, practices, and treatments for people affected by SUD, overdose risk, and CLS involvement.