Heather Zelle, J.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Research with the UV a Department of Public Health Sciences and the Associate Director of Mental Health Policy Research at the UV a Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy. She holds a juris doctorate from Villanova University School of Law, and a doctorate in clinical psychology with a forensic concentration from Drexel University. She is licensed as an attorney in Pennsylvania (voluntary inactive status) and as a clinical psychologist in Virginia. Dr. Zelle’s current policy and research work focus on the public mental health system and mental health policy in Virginia. She serves on state work groups studying topics such as involuntary civil commitment procedures and behavioral health dockets in Virginia courts. Dr. Zelle co-chaired the Criminal Justice Diversion Expert Panel that provided expert assistance to state legislators on issues including funding, policy, and statutory amendments concerning the Sequential Intercept Model, Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Centers, behavioral health dockets, jail mental health care standards, and information sharing between law enforcement and behavioral health providers. Dr. Zelle’s policy and research experience include work with Dr. Patty Griffin for the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual dis Abilities Services, including CIT training for Philadelphia law enforcement, assessment of specialty courts, and Cross Systems Mapping activities. She has co-authored several publications, including chapters in University and Public Behavioral Health Organization Collaboration in Justice Contexts; Routledge Encyclopedia of Psychology in the Real World: Psychology and Law; Forensic Assessment in Criminal and Civil Law: A Handbook for Lawyers; Advances in Psychology and Law; and Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics.