Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuropsychiatric Diagnosis

The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.

The Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuropsychiatric Diagnosis (MIND) develops medically-based criteria for diagnosing and classifying the psychiatric disorders that may underlie or result from methamphetamine abuse and associate criminal activity. In this grant-funded program, MIND staff will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic analysis to investigate predictors of criminal behavior in recovering methamphetamine-dependent patients. Methamphetamine-dependent individuals will be recruited from local residential drug abuse treatment programs and the control group will be recruited from the general public. The predictive validity of this project will reduce the incidence of methamphetamine abuse and associated behaviors and reduce offender re-entry into the criminal justice system. The grant funds will be used to offset the costs of: 1) project staff salaries and fringe benefits, 2) office and lab supplies, 3) subject recruitment and compensation, and 4) contracting for MRI scanning time.

NCA/NCF