ForHealth Consulting at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School launched  ACCJH in 2007,  attracting more than 200 participants from 20 states and 21 academic institutions. The success of this conference, and the conferences to follow, validated the need for academic-carceral health collaborations, as well as the need for increased support for criminal justice health care programs across the country.

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To respond to these growing needs, the conference’s national advisory group conducted semi-structured interviews with academic carceral health leaders and a qualitative analysis of the findings. The results demonstrated consistent trends, with key stakeholders and leaders confirming a need for an academic carceral health care consortium.

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With support from ForHealth Consulting at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH) was launched in 2012, and officially became a member organization in 2014. ACCJH now represents 10 founding institutions and continues to grow with the success of its conference and collaborative achievements.

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The ACCJH-hosted Conference continues to be among the most successful criminal justice health conferences in the nation, and attracts over 300 attendees every year. In 2023, the conference hosted speakers and participants from all US states, 3 countries, and 130 institutions.  

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Today, ACCJH has entered a new chapter. While we remain grateful for our origins and the steadfast support of ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School, we have transitioned to independent operations with fiscal sponsorship through The Nonprofit Organization for Philanthropic Initiatives (NOPI). This move positions ACCJH to expand its reach, strengthen its sustainability, and continue advancing the field of criminal legal health in partnership with institutions and practitioners nationwide.