title: Court-based participatory research: collaborating with the justice system to enhance sexual health services for vulnerable women in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although jail screening programs have an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmissible infections (STI) and HIV among incarcerated individuals, many arrestees are not screened before release. Justice-involved women are at particularly high risk for these conditions because of individual risk behaviour as well as other network-level risk factors. Court-based programs could provide a critical bridge between these women, STI risk counselling and health services. This formative study explored the features of a program that would encourage STI testing among court-involved women. Further, we describe how community-based participatory research principles were adapted for use in a court setting and the resulting justice-public health partnership.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using semistructured interviews and focus group discussions, we explored issues related to health-seeking behaviours, perceived gaps in services for high-risk women and the components of a court-based screening program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six focus groups were conducted with women with a history of commercial sex work and staff from the court, as well as local organisations providing HIV and social support services for high-risk women. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles facilitated development of relevant research questions and equitable processes, and assisted partners to consider individual and sociostructural sources of health disparities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not every principle was applicable in a court setting, the CBPR framework was helpful for building cohesion and support for the project. We provide a description of how CBPR principles were operationalised, describe the key lessons learned and discuss the implications for CBPR projects in a community court.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. almroth@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: J Dennis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fortenberry
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Der Pol
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberger
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dodge
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arno
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Certo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reece
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011477:Sex Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012944:Social Support; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology