Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Brian Lawton

Committee Members

Kevin T. Wolff

Jeffrey A. Butts

Marilyn Sinkewicz

Subject Categories

Community-Based Research | Criminology and Criminal Justice

Keywords

policing program, deflection, implementation, community stakeholders, new program development, CFIR, opioid crisis response

Abstract

This study explored stakeholder perceptions on the implementation of new deflection programs. “Deflection” encompasses a broad class of collaborative multisectoral police-community programs that divert individuals with opioid and substance use disorder (OSUD) needs away from arrest and toward community-based services and supports. The study adapted the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to develop a preliminary implementation framework for new deflection programs. It further examined its alignment with real-world deflection programs, using primary data collected between September 2024 and June 2025. A concurrent mixed-methods approach was utilized to collect stakeholder perceptions on deflection program features, priorities, and barriers. Qualitatively, semi-structured intensive Zoom interviews were conducted with expert deflection program stakeholders until response saturation, while quantitatively, a short online survey was self-administered to active deflection program stakeholders which remained open for response for a period of 8 weeks.

The study analyzed 15 in-depth interview responses using qualitative content analysis and 51 complete survey responses using descriptive statistical analysis. Both samples, while non-probabilistic, included stakeholders representing diverse service sectors across U.S. jurisdictions. The study findings broadly suggested that new deflection programs require structures to primarily support network access to multiple service providers, referral and operations coordination between core program partners, and stakeholder buy-in and collaboration. New deflection programs also appeared to experience common structural barriers (e.g., data or information management, staff turnover, policy issues), with the external operating environment playing an important role, especially when characterized by stakeholder dynamics of competition or conflict, low resources particularly in rural settings, fragmented governance and infrastructure, and poor police-community relations particularly in marginalized and hard-to-reach populations.

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