Dr. David Stephens is a correctional mental health expert, with over 20 years of high-level leadership, academic and consulting experience.  He is a nationally and internationally sought-after expert in the development of mental health programs and services for correctional facilities, systems and community agencies. He serves on the National Commission on Correctional Health Care Task Force; the Subcommittee for Developing National Certification for Correctional Mental Health Providers; and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Correctional Healthcare.

Chief of Mental Health for 3 statewide prison systems, he has been a true catalyst for transformational leadership in both jails and prisons nationwide.  In these state DOC systems, Dr. Stephens maintained National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation in every facility with no mental health findings in any accreditation audit. He was responsible for obtaining the first ever ACA accreditation for an inpatient dual diagnosis treatment program in a prison system in the United States.  Under the leadership of Dr. Stephens, the Wyoming Department of Corrections was able to sunset the mental health portion of a settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice.

Dr. Stephens has worked with the country of Estonia’s Prison Training Department to develop a correctional psychology program in their national prison system.  He has also overseen mental health services in jails in 13 states, improving intake systems for large jails and developing recovery plans.  In 2010, Dr. Stephens development of a Re-entry program won a national award from the National Association of Counties.