Dr. Henry Steadman has been President of Policy Research Associates, Inc. since he founded it in 1987. Previously, Dr. Steadman ran a nationally known research bureau for 17 years for the New York State Office of Mental Health. His work has resulted in eight books, over 130 journal articles in a wide range of professional journals, 20 chapters, and numerous reports.

Among Dr. Steadman's major current projects are: (1) the National GAINS Center for Evidence-Based Practices in the Justice System; (2) the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Mental Health Court Study; (3) National Institute of Justice Women’s Brief Jail Mental Health Screen Study; (4) SAMHSA’s Technical Assistance and Policy Analysis Center for Jail Diversion; and (5) NIMH Adult Mental Health-Criminal Justice Cross-Training Curriculum Development Project.

Dr. Steadman received his B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from Boston College and his Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Among the major awards Dr. Steadman has received are: Carl A. Taube Award for Outstanding Contributions in Mental Health Services Research, American Public Health Association, 2005; the Amicus Award from the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (1987); the Philippe Pinel Award from the International Academy of Law and Mental Health (1988); the Saleem A. Shah Award from the State Mental Health Forensic Directors (1994); the Distinguished Contribution to Forensic Psychology from the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (1998); and the Isaac Ray Award (1999) from the American Psychiatric Association for his outstanding contributions to the psychiatric aspects of jurisprudence.

Areas of expertise

homelessness and mental health; violence risk assessment; the interface between the mental health and criminal justice systems

Recent publications

Morrissey J, Steadman HJ, Dalton K, Cuellar A, Stiles P, Cuddeback G. Medicaid enrollment and mental health service use following jail release by persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services (in press).

Steadman HJ, Naples M. (2005) Assessing the effectiveness of jail diversion programs for persons with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. Behavioral Sciences and the Law 23(2):163-170.

Steadman HJ, Scott J, Osher F, Agnese T, Robbins PC. (2005) Validation of the brief jail mental health screen. Psychiatric Services 56(7):816-822.