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Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (LEAP)

Welcome to LEAP!

Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (LEAP) is a multifaceted program designed to educate any interested individual about the nuances of conducting research in criminal justice settings.

By educating key stakeholders about effective and ethical conduct of research with justice-involved populations, we hope to build capacity for this research, which is sorely needed.

LEAP will increase the speed with which science becomes practice in the criminal justice field. The program will offer research education, mentoring, and networking, and other resources that will benefit practitioners in the areas of justice, treatment, and health, as well as scientists, researchers, journalists, and community members.

LEAP Aims:

  • Advancing the capacity and diversity of high impact research for populations involved with the health and criminal justice systems. More specifically, four sub-goals:
    • Growing the research workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct ethical, rigorous research including partnering with justice and health agencies to conduct rigorous studies, recruitment & enrollment of subjects, use of informed consents, and problem solving in a variety of health, community, and justice settings.
  • Enlisting an array of community, health, and justice leaders to value and implement research findings in practice and to engage in collaborative research teams on the conduct of research.
  • Motivating these learners to champion completion of research projects and fidelity of planned projects given the challenges of day-to-day operations.
  • Expanding and/or develop a pipeline of independent CJ/Health researchers for the field that can work in multidisciplinary teams.
  • Expanding and/or develop a pipeline of CJ and Tx practitioners who are champions for using research findings to guide clinical practice
Learn more about the specific aims of the LEAP program.

The LEAP program includes the LEAP Learner Track, LEAP Scholar Track, and the LEAP Investigator Track. Click each track below to learn more about these exciting opportunities.

LEAP Learner Track

Six entry-level courses and resources on critical topics pertaining to performing research at the intersection of justice and health. The LEAP Learner Track courses are for everyone and cover many topics!

As a LEAP Learner, you can take each course individually and earn a certificate of completion or take all six (as they become available) to become a Certified LEAP Learner!

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LEAP Scholar Track

A one-year cohort-based program with mentorship for researchers, students, and early career scholars who want to learn more about research.

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LEAP Investigator Track

A two-year cohort-based program with mentorship for researchers, students, and early career scholars who want to enhance their skills and develop a research proposal for external funding to become independent investigators.

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