ADDRESS: 1227 Peck Hall OFFICE PHONE: (618) 650-5694
EXPERIENCE
8/03 to present Assistant Professor
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies
P. O. Box 1455
Edwardsville, IL 62026
Teaching interests include mental health in the criminal justice system, ethics, juvenile justice, introductory courses in criminology and criminal justice, rehabilitation and treatment in correctional settings, etc.
Current research agenda includes research regarding the intersection of the criminal justice and mental health systems. Examples include evaluating a diversion program for delinquent youth with serious emotional disturbances through the St. Louis City Family Court; the court conditional release process for those insanity acquittees deemed appropriate to return to community settings (awarded SRF and FUR funding for 2005 for this research area); and the impact of a new federal law (HIPAA) establishing criminal penalties for wrongful disclosure of protected consumer health information. Participated in a grant project for State Courts Improvement Program for the State of Illinois for Academic Year 2004-2005; and grant application for juvenile justice services for Southern Illinois.
4/02 to 7/03 DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH HIPAA PRIVACY OFFICER
Missouri Department of Mental Health, M.S. A116, 5400 Arsenal, St. Louis,
Missouri, 63139.
Responsibilities include designing a system for compliance with HIPAA (the
Federal privacy law). Approach utilized was review of current system responsible
for responding to confidentiality issues; compare current system with federal
Privacy requirements; identify gaps between the two; and develop specific policies
and procedures to assure compliance. Strategies for system design included
formation of task force from all affected facilities (30 state-operated facilities and a
central office) charged with completion of one set of policies applicable to all settings. Also responsible for coordinating all questions and answers for all facility designated privacy officers. Co-chaired HIPAA training task force, and responsible for oversight of curriculum on new HIPAA policies. Responsible for presenting training curriculum to central office employees (450), and assure completion of training at all facilities. Responsible for administering HIPAA complaint process. Responsible for drafting all HIPAA required contracts and memorandums of understanding. Provide ongoing risk management review and legal advice on HIPAA related questions. Legal liaison with other state agency HIPAA counsel through membership on statewide Missouri HIPAA committee.
Serve as legal liaison to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Missouri Sex Offender Treatment Center from January 1999 to present. Provide legal advice to the program administration, and review program policies for constitutional compliance.
6/96 to 4/02 ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL, EASTERN REGION
Missouri Department of Mental Health, M.S. A116, 5400 Arsenal, St. Louis,
Missouri, 63139
Assistant General Counsel duties include representation of eight adult and juvenile mental health facilities, seven mental retardation facilities, and the Eastern Region Office for Alcohol and Drug Abuse; task force chair for Forensic Manual revisions committee; co-author of privatization request for proposal affecting community mental health services; review and monitoring of managed care contracts; legal liaison for Department’s Abuse and Neglect Unit; review of personnel actions such as suspension, demotion or termination; advice and interpretation on policy matters such as code of state regulation questions, department operating regulations, and review and drafting of pending legislation; legal research and opinions; serve training function for all facility personnel on legal issues; liaison with the Attorney General’s Office in litigation matters; and representative on the 1996 Security Review Task Force, and the annual Forensic Conference Planning Committee.
Served as legal liaison to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Missouri Sex Offender Treatment Center beginning in January 1999.
6/95 to 6/96 DEPUTY DIRECTOR, POLICY AND PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL
Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Comprehensive
Psychiatric Services, 1706 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, Missouri
65102.
Deputy Director duties included responsibility for development of plans,
programs, procedures, and policies for the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services. Specific examples include development of sexual offender legislation; development of contract for changing purchase of service model; representative to State Advisory Council Long Range Planning Committee; representative to Elderly Health and Nutrition Task Force; representative to Governor’s Council on AIDS; representative to At-Risk Drivers Legislative Task Force; CPS representative to Department’s Strategic Planning Initiative; and oversight of Nursing Home Reform procedures. Policy focus areas include privatization, managed care, Medicaid programs and budget requests. Served as writer/coordinator for Division’s administrative rules. Supervised functions of staff development, supported housing, homeless grants, supported employment, and federal block grant planning and implementation reports.
Assistant General Counsel duties include advising the Division on juvenile matters, SSDI and NGRI questions, agreements with outside review/advocacy groups, the National Voter Registration Act and technical assistance to facility-based patient rights and ethics committee.
6/89 to 6/95 DIRECTOR OF FORENSIC SERVICES AND ASSISTANT GENERAL
COUNSEL
Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Comprehensive
Psychiatric Services, 1706 East Elm Street, Jefferson City, Missouri
65102.
Director of Forensic Services duties include responsibility for ongoing
quality of care at seven facilities for programs related to the not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) patients, as well as those deemed incompetent to proceed to trial; coordination of certified forensic examiner committee; coordination of attorney and court orders and requests for pretrial evaluations for the purpose of determining competency and/or responsibility at the time of the criminal offense for seven state-operated outpatient/inpatient programs. Responsibilities included supervision of nine forensic case monitors responsible for monitoring NGRI patients on court ordered conditional release. Coordination and filing of motions to
proceed in the criminal matter for those patients now deemed competent to stand trial. Development and implementation of statewide forensic system plan. Responsible for drafting legislation for forensic system improvement, enacted in 1994. Coordination of training for all forensic inpatient staff. Develop and
maintain forensic data collection system. Chair task force on sex offenders
and juvenile forensic issues.
Assistant General Counsel duties include advising the Department of
Mental Health on juvenile and collection matters; as well as situations
involving civil involuntary mental health commitments, transfer hearings, abuse and neglect investigations, and proposed legislative packages. Review and
development of pertinent policies and procedures.
Position allowed teaching at University of Missouri-Columbia School of
Law, Fall 1993, “Psychiatry and the Law” (co-taught with Dr. Bruce
Harry).
4/84 to 6/89 ASSISANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
Missouri Attorney General’s Office, 3100 Broadway, Penntower Office
Building, Suite 609, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
Primary counsel to State Department of Mental Health facilities in western
third of Missouri.
Represent facilities and officers in civil litigation and administrative
proceedings in federal and state courts and provide advice to facilities on
a day-to-day basis with respect to federal and state laws, and supervised
implementation of a federal consent decree at one of the state hospitals.
Served on, and was resource for, committees involved with drafting
policies and procedures for various mental health disciplines.
Litigation experience includes representing facility officers in hearings of
contested cases before Missouri Personnel Advisory Board and in
proceedings involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Services; Office for Civil Rights; responsibility for cases in probate court
both guardianships (including jury trial experience) and claims against
estates. Experience also includes a variety of civil actions primarily in
state circuit courts, including cases brought under the Missouri Wrongful
Death Act. Appellate experience includes writing briefs in civil appeals
before the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Teaching experience includes speaking at and presenting seminars to
groups, physicians, and nurses about developments in and
implementation of pertinent laws and regulations.
EDUCATION
December 2003 Ph.D., University of Missouri - St. Louis, Department of
Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Dissertation: An Evaluation of a Family Court Diversion Program for Delinquent
Youth with Chronic Mental Health Needs
Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. David Curry, Ph.D. (Summer 1999 to 2003)
Evaluation of the City of St. Louis Mental Health Board Juvenile Justice Initiative (completed as a NIJ Grant Project)
Graduate Teaching Assistant for Dr. David Curry, Ph.D., Statistical Methods, Winter Semester 1999
December 1998 Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice,
University of Missouri St. Louis.
December 1983 Juris Doctor, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law.
Activities: The Urban Lawyer, Junior Staff Member
Dean’s Honor Roll, Third Year
May 1980 Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
Central Missouri State University
PUBLICATIONS UNDER REVIEW
Linhorst, D.M., Dirks-Linhorst, P.A., Bernsen, H.L., & Childrey, J. (under review).
The development and implementation of a jail-based substance abuse
treatment program. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions.
PUBLICATIONS
` Cannon, Kevin D., & Dirks-Linhorst, P.A. (2006). How will they understand if we don’t teach them?: The status of criminal justice education on gay and lesbian issues. Journal of Criminal Justice
Education, 17(2).
Dirks-Linhorst, P.A., & Linhorst, D.M. (2006). A description of the
design and costs of an insanity acquittee conditional release, monitoring
and revocation system. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health,
5(1), 55-65.
INVITED BOOK CHAPTERS
Dirks-Linhorst, P.A. (anticipated January 2007). Addictions in corrections.
Correctional Health Care: A Focus on Prevention. (R. Ruddell & M.
Tomita, Eds.). de Sitter Publications.
Dirks-Linhorst, P.A. (anticipated January 2007). Correctional mental health:
Problems, prevalence, and public health. Correctional Health Care:
A Focus on Prevention. (R. Ruddell & M. Tomita, Eds.). de Sitter
Publications.
Dirks-Linhorst, P.A. (2006). Forensic Mental Health. Missouri Bar CLE
Deskbook on Mental Health in Missouri. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Bar Publications.
TECHNICAL REPORTS
Carr, T. R., Thies, J., Dirks-Linhorst, P.A., Krohn, E., Brown, V., & Falconer, J.
(2005, June). Re-Assessment of Illinois’ court proceedings for foster care
and adoption: Revised draft aggregate report. Presented to Administrative
Office of Illinois Courts (AOIC).
Curry, G. D., Decker, S. H., & Dirks-Linhorst, P.A. (2004, December).
Evaluation of juvenile justice mental health initiative with randomized
Design. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (Grant
2001-IJ-CX-0017).
GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Graduate Studies and Research,
Summer Research Fellowship, Summer 2005, $6,000.00
Project: “Public Safety and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI)
Acquittees: An Evaluation of Community Monitoring and the Revocation
Decision-Making Process.”
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Graduate Studies and Research,
Funded University Research, 2005-2006, $2,975.00
Project: “Public Safety and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI)
Acquittees: An Evaluation of Community Monitoring and the Revocation
Decision-Making Process.”
PRIOR PUBLICATIONS IN REFEREED JOURNALS
Linhorst, D. M., & Dirks-Linhorst, P. A. (1999). A critical assessment of disposition options for mentally ill offenders. Social Service Review, 73(1), 65-81.
Linhorst, D. M. & Dirks-Linhorst, P. A. (1997). The impact of insanity acquitees on Missouri’s public mental health system. Law and Human Behavior, 21(3), 327-338.
Dirks-Linhorst, P. A. & Linhorst, D.M. (1994). The development and implementation of a statewide plan for forensic services. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 21(6), 537-544.
SERVICE
Institutional Review Board, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Fall 2004-present).
College of Arts and Sciences. CAS Operating Papers Committee. Academic Year 2006-2007.
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies:
Criminal Justice Studies Curriculum Committee (2003-present)
Criminal Justice Studies Faculty Articulation Process (2003-present)
Ad Hoc Committee on Departmental Policies (2003-2004)
Department Graduate Admissions and Assistantships Committee (2004- 2005)
Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Planning Advisory Board (2004-present)
Ad Hoc Committee on Student Disposition Statement (2005-2006)
PTS Committee (2006)
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies:
Faculty Advisor, Criminal Justice Club (Fall 2005-present)
Community:
Co-author of “FY2003 Annual Report”, Forensic Services, Missouri Department of Mental Health (second author), presented May 2004.
Co-author of “FY2004 Annual Report”, Forensic Services, Missouri
Department of Mental Health (second author), presented January 2005.
Co-author of “FY2005 Annual Report”, Forensic Services, Missouri
Department of Mental Health (second author), presented January 2006.
PUBLICATION REVIEW EXPERIENCE
Current Manuscript Reviewer, Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice
Prior Manuscript Reviewer, Criminology, 37.
Prior Manuscript Reviewer, Criminology, 38.
PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES REPRESENTING SIUE
NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS:
American Society of Criminology 2006 Conference
“Making the Text Real: Assimilating Research into the Classroom”
Los Angeles, CA, November 3, 2006
American Society of Criminology 2005 Conference
“Re-entry of NGRI Acquittees to Community Settings: An Analysis of the Decision-Making Process”
Toronto, Canada, November 16, 2005.
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors – Forensic Division
2005 Conference: “Public Safety and NGRI Acquittees: An Evaluation of Community Monitoring and Revocation Decision-Making”.
Stateline, NV, September 13, 2005 (Invited abstract submission).
American Society of Criminology 2004 Conference
“HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2: How Recent Federal Laws Affect When and How Much Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Information Law Enforcement May Access.”
Nashville, TN, November 20, 2004
American Society of Criminology 2004 Conference
“An Evaluation of a Family Court Diversion Program for Delinquent Youth with Chronic Mental Health Needs.”
Nashville, TN, November 18, 2004
American Society of Criminology 2004 Conference
“The Status of Criminal Justice Education on Gay and Lesbian Issues.”
Nashville, TN, November 18, 2004 (co-presented with Kevin Cannon, Ph.D.)
PRESENTATIONS AT PRIOR PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES
NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS:
Midwestern Association of State Mental Health Organizations Conference
“HIPAA: How Facilities Are Responding”
Kansas City, MO, October 19, 2001
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
– Forensic Division, 2001 Conference
“Ethical Considerations for Attorneys and Clinicians in Hearings Involving Youth”
Cincinnati, OH, September 24, 2001
(co-presented with Patricia Carter, Ph.D.)
Training provided upon request to the State of Arkansas
“Juvenile Competence in the State of Arkansas: The Evaluation Process and Concurrent Legal Issues”
Little Rock, AR, August 23 and 24, 1999
(co-presented with Patricia Carter, Ph.D.)
American Society of Criminology 1998 Conference
“The Impact of Missouri Legislation Mandating Public Hearings for Insanity Acquitees’ Release: Are Victims’ Voices Heard?”
Washington, D.C., November 13, 1998
American Society of Criminology 1998 Conference
“Chemical Castration”
Washington, D.C., November 12, 1998
National Association of State Mental Health Program
Directors – Forensic Division 1998 Conference
“Missouri Legislation Initiating Victim Participation in Insanity Acquitee Conditional Release Hearings”
St. Petersburg, FL, October 6, 1998
IAPSRS 23rd Annual Conference
“The State of Duty to Warn: Missouri as a Case Example”
Orlando, FL, June 17, 1998
American Society of Criminology 1996 Annual Conference
“Sexual Predator Legislation: A Shotgun Wedding or Criminal Justice and Mental Health?”
Chicago, IL, November 21, 1996
American Society of Criminology 1996 Annual Conference
“Sex Offenders and Treatment: A Survey of the States’ Responsibility to Provide Alternatives”
Chicago, IL, November 22, 1996
PRIOR STATE PRESENTATIONS:
Missouri Department of Mental Health
Community Mental Health Provider Outreach Training
September 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 and
October 1, 2002
“HIPAA Privacy Training: Integrating Privacy and Security”
Missouri Department of Mental Health
CPS/ADA Fall Institute Conference
“How to Build a HIPAA Privacy Training Curriculum”
Lake Ozark, MO, September 17 and 18, 2002
Missouri Department of Mental Health
CPS/ADA Spring Institute Conference
“HIPAA: Advanced Privacy Considerations”
Lake Ozark, MO, May 31, 2002
Missouri Municipal Judges Association Meeting
“Accessing Forensic Mental Health Evaluations for Municipal Courts”
Lake Ozark, MO, May 23, 2001
Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
“Legal Update: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Reaffirmation of Sexually Violent Predator Laws (Seling v. Young)”
Lake Ozark, MO, April 13, 2001
Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
“Are Victims’ Voices Heard?”
Lake Ozark, MO, April 6, 1999
Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
“A Constitutional Analysis of Kansas v. Hendricks”
Lake Ozark, MO, April 3, 1998
Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
“Chemical Castration: A Legal, Ethical and Moral Alternative Treatment for Sex Offenders?”
Lake Ozark, MO, April 3, 1998
Missouri Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation (MOAPSRS) Conference
“Duty to Warn”
St. Louis, MO, September 25, 1997
Missouri Department of Mental Health Forensic Conference
“Duty to Warn”
Lake Ozark, MO, April 1997
St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy
“Recognizing and Handling the Mentally Ill: Legal Issues”
St. Louis, MO, March 9, 1995
The Missouri Bar Fall Criminal Practice Institute
“Forensic Client Mental Health Issues”
St. Louis, MO, November 3, 1993
Columbia, MO, November 17, 1993
Missouri Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services
“Forensic Client Conditional Release Issues”
Lake Ozarks, MO, October 1993
Social Security Administration, Office of Hearings and Appeals
“Forensic Psychology and Disability”
Creve Coeur, MO, May 26, 1993
CURRENT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
American Society of Criminology Lifetime Member
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences member
Missouri Bar Association Membership since 1984
The Missouri Bar
Vice-Chair, Special Committee on Mental & Developmental Disabilities
1997-1998, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 Bar Years.
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors/State Mental Health Forensic Directors Executive Committee Member (1993-1995)
Conference Program Committee Chair (1993)
Co-Chair, SSI AdHoc Advisory Group (1995)