Texas Southern University Center for Justice Research Postdoc Awarded Grant to Study Firearm Deaths After Incarceration

Dr. Jennifer Wyatt Bourgeois, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University, has been awarded $100,000 from the Fund for a Safer Future to study firearm deaths among people recently released from incarceration.

The three-year study will examine how factors like untreated mental health conditions, substance use, housing instability, and prior trauma contribute to gun violence deaths during the critical first year after release. Each year, over 600,000 people leave state and federal prisons, with many facing barriers that increase their vulnerability to violence.

“By understanding how these risk factors interact, we can design better interventions to prevent gun violence during the first year after release,” said Dr. Bourgeois. “This research focuses on one of the most vulnerable populations affected by gun violence.”

The study will identify patterns that distinguish gun homicides from suicides and determine when people are most at risk during their first year out. Results will guide violence prevention programs, reentry services, and public health agencies.

The research will examine differences by race, age, and gender. Community organizations will help develop materials and share findings with the public.

Dr. Howard Henderson, Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Justice Research, noted: “We are incredibly proud of Dr. Bourgeois and this recognition. She represents the kind of researcher we’re training at CJR, academics who can turn complex data into practical solutions that save lives.”

Dr. Calvin Johnson, Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, added: “Additional research on the impact of unaddressed mental health, behavioral health, and housing security on violent crime, including gun violence, is crucial for developing effective preventive interventions. Because these factors serve as barriers to effective reentry back into the community, understanding how these factors contribute to gun violence is particularly important for target interventions among individuals recently released from jail or prison. Furthermore, this research has the potential to provide insight on a wider range of place-based interventions aimed at creating safer neighborhoods and communities for all residents.

Findings will be shared through publications, policy briefs, community sessions, and conferences. The study concludes in December 2028.

“Dr. Bourgeois’s work highlights the critical role of research in informing policies and interventions that promote safer communities and improve outcomes for individuals transitioning back into society,” said Vice President for Research and Innovation Dr. Michelle John.

The Fund for a Safer Future is a fiscally sponsored initiative of Global Impact that pools resources to invest in targeted, practical strategies to reduce gun injuries and deaths.