Testimonials

“IJRD is an exciting new force in making meaningful change in our Florida communities.”
 

"The stress and trauma law enforcement officers experience on a day-to-day basis is not something that is talked about enough. This innovative program [Resiliency Behind the Badge] is a positive step in addressing this issue head-on and ensuring the proper supports are in place for law enforcement officers."

"Innovative research done by IJRD will empower the Commonwealth to implement effective rehabilitation efforts, providing these individuals with the greatest opportunity for success as they reenter society . . . Kentucky has become a national leader in criminal justice reform, and we are grateful for our partnership in advancing this critical pursuit.” 

"IJRD's research exploring the trauma incarcerated men had experienced throughout their lives and interventions to treat it helped me better understand myself, my unaddressed symptoms of trauma, how trauma related to my prior incarceration. And even more, it helped me develop a program and curriculum to help others address the invisible barriers of past trauma and make more effective life decisions as they release from incarceration." 

"I love the fact that IJRD focuses on the human potential of those that have been incarcerated and I applaud their work to transform the criminal justice system."

"We at Unlocking Doors® are extremely grateful for our partnership with IJRD. Carrie Pettus and her team are on the cutting edge of data-driven criminal justice reform, something in which we believe wholeheartedly. We were honored to have been one of the initial test sites for the 5-Key Model and are now looking forward to adding the assessment to our own program model. We have no doubt that it will add much value for our clients, ultimately impacting their future success."
 

"I am a law enforcement officer and Resiliency Behind the Badge was very important to maintaining a self-observance of the toll everyday crises you can and ultimately will encounter no matter where you work."

“I plan on immediately integrating what I learned in the Summer Institute to ensure the highest quality of intervention research protocol. I can’t wait to jump into my next project. Research to practice and engaging community stakeholders is not only important as a part of our work with special populations, but it is our ethical obligation."

"The Program Evaluation training provided us with a much-needed roadmap to follow as we navigate an assessment of our residential reentry program at Mercy House. It offered focus as we wade through existing records and fill in the gaps with interviews. It has prompted a more assessment-centric mentality in our daily routines, so that we can continue to evaluate and improve our program for the residents."

"Peer-to-Peer Support trainers were amazing and engaging. The information was very helpful and useful. [IJRD] made the information easy to understand."

"This highly interactive Summer Institute workshop provided me with concrete tools to advance my grant writing and funding potential, along with opportunities to connect with colleagues similarly working to improve the experiences and outcomes of people in the criminal justice system.”

"It was important getting to know other researchers with whom I share the same questions and preoccupations regarding advancing a research career and how/when we will be able to conduct intervention research. The Summer Institute training was important to clarify doubts regarding the process required when conducting this kind of research."

"Awesome tag team with IJRD's two trainers! They provided the therapeutics vs. ground zero approach with actual experiences."

"The most important things I learned from the Summer Institute training were the importance of grounding interventions in theory from the very beginning, the different types of funding that are available for intervention research, depending upon the stage of the research, and the value of building up relationships prior to undertaking an intervention research effort."

"I used to be quiet about a lot of stuff, not talking at all. But as I got more comfortable with my 5-Key Model counselor, I started to talk. I learned that I had to talk to somebody. I had to get an opinion and options from other people. Then, think about those opinions and options and make the best decision. I used to be ‘all or nothing’ and now I know that all-or-nothing thinking isn’t good for me, for police, for anyone. And now I know all this so just every situation there has to be another option, you gotta weigh all the options."

"Every time I speak to my 5-Key Model practitioner, it reminds me to stay on the right path. She always makes sure I know that I'm not alone through anything I'm going through." 

"Well, as many times as I wanted to get high or beat someone up, I always called my 5-Key counselor. You guys were there for me and that’s what mattered because when people use drugs or are in trouble all the time, it’s because they’re lonely. You know, we even feel like drugs and trouble is our only option. When we feel like nobody cares, then it’s like why do I care? 5-Key really helped because any time I felt like I was gonna mess up, I had to say, ‘Hey I need help or I’m gonna mess up.’ But when I did that, you were always there to help me get through it."

“The 5-Key Model program has helped me to find myself as a man. It has taught me the tools I need to make it in everyday life and how to deal and cope with everything that comes with it.”

"I appreciate that you treat me like a person and not a number. I've always got someone to reach out to as and someone to listen."

"With the 5-Key Model, I've been able to be patient and think about it and think about what’s going to be a better outcome for me. I just got to be patient – that's one of the things that I've had a problem with – I would get so angry and immediately go off and end up back in prison. That’s where I don’t want to be. So, by knowing that I have somebody that I can talk to each week who’s gonna listen to me, you know, that gives me something to look forward to."

"The biggest challenge after I got out was I really didn’t have nothing to do. I was still in the prison mode, so I called my 5-Key counselor and she was like basically trying to get me back on track with  what’s going on outside. She showed me all sorts of different resources, people to go talk to, stuff like that. That was something different from the previous times when I had went to jail because before I ain’t have nobody. You know, somebody to like check on me every week, somebody to talk to."

“IJRD comprises ambitious and inventive individuals who bring their dedication to work every day and inspire me to advance my ingenuity in this field.”
 

“Working at IJRD has allowed me to see and experience the intersection between social work and criminal justice in a real-world setting. I work with, learn from, and am mentored by so many great people who are also superstar scholars in the field. I feel like I’m not just ‘doing a job,’ I’m learning by conducting research on a variety of topics that I’m interested in.”

"In just a few months, I've learned data documentation, research literacy, and interview skills and grown as a researcher and future social worker."

“My work at IJRD has had a profound impact on me academically, professionally, and personally. The breadth of experiences I have had as a research technician — from conducting and recording interviews for the 5-Key Model research to pulling literature, monitoring data, and designing infographics — is invaluable. It has helped me grasp the research process far more than any class ever could.”

"I feel honored to have access to brilliant minds to help guide me throughout my career, as well as a platform to help invoke change in the community."

"The highlight of my work with IJRD has been learning about people’s lives and using their life experiences to advance research and policy change. I’m grateful for the work I did as a field placement student with juveniles being charged as adults and women incarcerated in a local detention facility. As a student, I had access to social workers with years of macro-practice experience who helped me apply what I learned in the classroom to my career."

"Through my work at IJRD, I've become passionate and vocal about prison reform and the justice system, and I'm excited to be a catalyst for lasting and needed change."

"Seeing the real-world impact of research produced by the IJRD team makes me excited for my future career in research."

"This work has been so eye-opening and career-affirming for me. My ultimate goal is to become an Occupational Therapist and engaging in criminal justice reform through a rehabilitative and compassion-based lens is at the core of what pushes and motivates me."