Florida Tech’s School of Psychology (SOP) played a pivotal role in advancing the dialogue on mental health in the criminal justice system at the second annual Collaborative Conference for Justice Jan. 23.
Julie Costopoulos, professor and SOP head, served as the moderator of the roundtable conference, which convened Circuit 18 judges, attorneys, hospital executives and community program leaders to address the challenges individuals with serious mental illnesses face in the justice system. The goal was not just to identify obstacles but to collaboratively explore innovative solutions.
Twenty select undergraduate and doctoral psychology students from Florida Tech were invited to attend. These students, mostly majoring or with an interest in forensic psychology, gained firsthand insights into the complexities at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice.
The conference was divided into two parts:
Part 1: Understanding Roles and Identifying Key Issues: Panelists explained their roles in addressing mental health in the criminal justice system, followed by identifying specific challenges and areas for improvement.
Part 2: Exploring Solutions: Panelists engaged in a focused discussion and collaborated on potential solutions, including leveraging existing resources and proposing new initiatives.
The event was organized by Andrea Fant, assistant public defender of the Public Defender’s Office for the 18th Circuit. The distinguished panelists included:
- Thomas Brown – Brevard County judge
- David Koenig – Brevard County judge
- Rachel Sadoff – Brevard County clerk of the circuit court and comptroller
- Michael Pirolo – chief assistant public defender, Public Defender’s Office for the 18th Circuit
- Michael Hill – misdemeanor division chief, State Attorney’s Office for the 18th Circuit
- Ann Perrin – felony division chief, State Attorney’s Office for the 18th Circuit
- Stephen Lord – president and CEO, Circles of Care
- Thomas Mahle – CEO, Palm Point Behavioral Health
- Samantha Eastman – Florida Department of Corrections probation services
- Vanessa Diaz – Veterans’ Justice Outreach Program specialist
“It was exciting to see so many leaders from various elements of our criminal justice system join together to collaborate on addressing the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness,” Costopoulos said. “A common goal that stood out was treating people with dignity while ensuring the safety of all involved. The forensic psychology program’s students and faculty are passionate about the places where psychology intersects with the legal system. It is exciting to be a part of the solution.”
