NeuroResource facilitation for improved re-entry outcomes for incarcerated individuals with Brain injury: Randomized controlled trial protocol.

The prevalence of brain injury (BI) is significantly greater among justice involved individuals and is associated with poorer outcomes during and after incarceration. Here we report the protocol for a multi-site, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a NeuroResource Facilitation (NRF) intervention to reduce recidivism and improve community participation compared to standard of care (SoC) for individuals with BI and cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system. The primary hypothesis was that individuals who are provided NRF will show a 10% lower rate of recidivism in the year following release, compared to individuals provided SoC. The secondary hypotheses are that those provided NRF would demonstrate a significantly higher rate of success on: Productive Activities, Engagement with Services, Community Support, and Parole Obligations, compared to individuals provided SoC. Eligible participants were male, housed in one of four State Correctional Institutions (SCIs) in Pennsylvania (PA), with an anticipated release within 1-year of study entry, all were returning to the Greater Philadelphia area, experienced BI exposure, demonstrated significant cognitive impairment, were capable of adequately communicating in English, and were able to give consent. The NRF intervention was provided prior to and following release and included re-entry planning, resource identification, and support for cognitive impairments and community reintegration. Participants were followed for up to 36 months of post-release. Findings will provide rigorous evidence for the effectiveness of NRF in improving outcomes for individuals with BI and cognitive impairment and will inform the development of more effective prison and reentry practices across federal, local, and community levels. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05708092.