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Bree Derrick, Ph.D. is a 2025 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Bree Derrick at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Beth Mabry, Committee Chair, Dr. Lize Booysen Committee Member, Dr. Brian Lovins, Committee Member

Dissertation Committee

  • Beth Mabry, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Lize Booysen, DBL, Committee Member
  • Brian Lovins, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

childhood adversity, ACEs, criminogenic risk assessment, trauma-informed leadership, prisoners, in-prison misconduct, recidivism, logistic regression

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Criminogenic risk-needs assessment is the cornerstone of recidivism reduction models in the correctional sector. Despite decades of using criminogenic risk-need tools, recidivism outcomes remain stubbornly high in the U.S. This non-traditional dissertation explored how traditional criminogenic assessments could be improved with the addition of measures of childhood adversity and maltreatment. This study found that the prevalence of ACEs was significantly greater in an adult prison population of 1,522 in a rural, western state than in the general public. Utilizing logistic regression, this research also found that ACEs were better predictors of in-prison misconduct than traditional criminogenic risk-needs assessments, although traditional risk-needs tools outperformed the ACE survey when predicting reincarceration. This dissertation is a portfolio of four works that explore traditional criminogenic risk and needs assessment and call for a trauma-informed evolution. The first article serves as an introduction, outlining the rationale for the project and identifying the research questions. The second article is theoretical and includes a review of the relevant literature, specifically criminogenic risk-needs assessment, childhood adversity, and the impacts of maltreatment on neurodevelopment. The third article summarizes my quantitative study examining the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and serious misconduct in prison and reincarceration. The final work synthesizes the research and provides recommendations for correctional leaders to implement a trauma-informed approach, including the addition of assessments of maltreatment and trauma for justice-involved individuals. This dissertation is currently embargoed.

Comments

Bree Derrick

ORCID: #0009-0002-2688-3916

Dr. Bree Derrick currently serves as the director of the Idaho Department of Correction, leading approximately 2,200 staff and overseeing the state’s ten prisons, five community reentry centers, and seven district probation and parole offices. She led the department’s recent staffing efforts, generating national recognition for industry best practices in recruitment and retention. She served as the deputy director from 2019 to 2025 and played an instrumental role in deploying pilot initiatives to reduce trauma for individuals living and working in prison, as well as in creating forensic peer mentoring programs within the prisons.

With over 20 years of experience in corrections and behavioral health systems, Bree is nationally recognized for her expertise in evidence-based practices and crime reduction strategies. Bree began her career with the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, later working at a private psychiatric hospital and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC). During her 10 years with RIDOC, she held roles as a researcher and mental health clinician. Later, she transitioned into a consulting role, where she helped more than a dozen state correctional agencies plan and implement large-scale programs to instill correctional best practices.

Bree has dedicated her career to improving public safety outcomes through reliance on research-based interventions and seeking to deploy and measure new models. She takes a scholar-practitioner approach to her daily work; frequently initiating research projects tied to departmental change as a means to expand the knowledge base in corrections.

Bree believes in centering the human experience of correctional staff, victims of crime, and those under correctional jurisdiction as a means to improve system outcomes. Additionally, she enjoys sharing what is learned with her peers as a frequent speaker in relevant professional associations.

Dr. Derrick holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, a Master of Holistic Counseling, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Salve Regina University. She also studied criminology at the graduate level at Sam Houston State University. She maintains licensure as a mental health counselor.

Recent and Upcoming Presentations

2025, October. From ACEs to action: Trauma-informed strategies for mitigating harm in correctional settings [Conference presenter]. International Corrections and Prisons Association

27th Global Conference, Istanbul, Turkey.

2025, February. Achieving public safety through desistance [Conference presenter]. Correctional Leaders Association Deputy Directors’ Conference, Miramar Beach, FL.

2024, September. We Could All Use a coach: How a coaching model for corrections has transformed culture [Plenary presenter]. International Corrections and Prisons Association 26th Global Conference, Singapore.

2024, August. Addressing trauma for correctional staff and clients: Lessons learned from a pilot study in Idaho [Conference presenter]. American Correctional Association 15th Congress of Correction, Nashville, TN.

2024, August. How the Idaho Department of Correction solved its staffing crisis [Panel moderator]. American Correctional Association 15th Congress of Correction, Nashville, TN.

2024, August. Corrections staffing considerations [Panelist]. American Correctional Association 15th Congress of Correction, Nashville, TN.

2023, October. How connection can improve outcomes for correctional staff and incarcerated individuals [Conference presenter]. International Corrections and Prisons Association 25th Global Conference, Antwerp, Belgium.

2023, November. Leading change [Plenary Presenter]. Correctional Leaders Association New Director’s Training, Indian Wells, CA.

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