ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dr. Lucas Wiscons, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northern State University, recently presented at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) South Dakota Conference, held Oct. 16–17 in Huron, S.D.

His presentation, “Justice or Trauma? How Systems of Punishment Create Wounds in People and Communities,” drew from his forthcoming book project and examines how America’s criminal justice system has become the default responder to mental health crises—often with counterproductive results.

In his presentation, Wiscons outlined how funneling people in crisis into jails and prisons can exacerbate illness, destabilize families, and burden public safety agencies. He also highlighted the unmet mental health needs of police and correctional officers who increasingly find themselves on the front lines of behavioral health emergencies.

“Professionals in law enforcement and corrections sign up to fight crime and keep communities safe,” said Wiscons. “Yet day after day, they’re dispatched to manage mental health and substance use crises without the training or resources those situations demand. Everyone may have the best of intentions, but the outcomes are often discouraging. You can’t incarcerate someone out of a persistent mental health condition.”

Wiscons called on South Dakota leaders to treat the state’s new prison construction as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink the continuum of care. He urged investments in evidence-based diversion programs, crisis stabilization, co-responder models, and post-release services—approaches that can reduce recidivism, improve officer wellness, and deliver better outcomes for people in crisis.

“Our state can be a national leader in responding productively to mental health and addiction crises,” he said. “If we align correctional infrastructure with robust treatment and community supports, we can reduce harm, strengthen public safety, and steward taxpayer dollars more effectively.”

A specialist in the intersection of the U.S. justice and mental health systems, Wiscons has published research on interactions between police and civilians on the autism spectrum. He is also an author on the forthcoming edition of The Criminalization of Mental Illness: Crisis and Opportunity for the Justice System.