Biography
Woojae Han is an assistant professor in the Binghamton University Department of Social Work. He earned his MSW from Washington University in St. Louis and his PhD from the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY). Han's research concerns community rehabilitation for offenders with mental illness. His research also focuses on behavioral health disparities for populations at risk.
Han has extensive clinical and research experience working with offenders with mental illness. As a psychiatric social worker at a community mental health agency, he observed how easily patients with mental illness became involved in the justice system and how frequently they recidivated. While working at the Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center, Han developed interest in mental health courts, the alternative court system for offenders with mental illness. In particular, his research focuses on the impact of mental health services and neighborhood environment on recidivism for offenders with mental illness. Han has received funding from the National Institute of Justice, the American Psychological Association and the Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation to address these and other lines of research.