Ten years ago, the concept of deflection emerged as a transformative approach to divert people with substance use disorders away from arrest and into treatment, care, and community support. Today, we celebrate a historic milestone: the publication of the first academic Special Issue entirely dedicated to deflection, released by the Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies on Human Rights and Science (JMSHRS).
Published by the Knowmad Institut and supported by PTACC and Rome Consensus 2.0, this Special Issue is indexed in Scopus, DOAJ, and the German National Library (DNB), to mention a few—signaling its global academic legitimacy and impact.
Read the Special Issue:
https://knowmadinstitut.org/journal/index.php/jms/issue/view/20
Inside the Special Issue: Titles & Topics
🔹 A Public Health Alternative to Arrest: Deflection as a Solution for Police and Communities
Jacqueline S. Campbell, Jac A. Charlier, Roger Peters
A foundational analysis of how deflection offers a public health alternative to traditional law enforcement responses.
🔹 Five Pathways of Deflection: Connecting Police to Community-Based Treatment and Services
Jac A. Charlier
Explains the five practical deflection models that empower police to connect individuals to health and social services instead of incarceration.
🔹 Deflection and the Ethics of Care
Edgar Abarca, Laura Zambrano
An ethical and philosophical examination of deflection as a model of compassionate, human-centered intervention.
🔹 Deflection in Latin America: Perspectives and Challenges
Carlos Mancheno
Outlines the possibilities and barriers to implementing deflection programs in Latin American justice and health systems.
🔹 The Role of Deflection in Advancing Human Rights and Public Health
Camilo De Los Santos
Highlights how deflection aligns with international human rights obligations and contributes to health equity and access to justice.
🔹 Measurement and Evaluation of Deflection Programs: An Emerging Science
Meghan Beller
Presents a framework for collecting data, defining success, and ensuring accountability in deflection initiatives.
🔹 Deflection as a Strategy for Scaling Access to Treatment and Services
Jac A. Charlier, Jason Martin
Shows how multi-sector partnerships enable the scaling and sustainability of deflection programs across jurisdictions.
🔹 Expanding the Conversation: Deflection and UN Peace Operations
Nixon Camilien
Also relevant to this academic landmark is an associated article that explores how deflection principles can inform humanitarian engagement in conflict and post-conflict settings:
🔹 Public Health, Peace Operations and Deflection: Towards a New Paradigm
A Rome Consensus 2.0 Milestone
This Special Issue is not only a scientific contribution—it is a symbol of what is possible through strategic collaboration, advocacy, and a shared commitment to dignity-driven policy. The Rome Consensus 2.0, along with PTACC and the Knowmad Institut, has brought deflection into academic legitimacy, paving the way for global policy change.
📢 Access the Full Special Issue & Share the Research:
🔗 https://knowmadinstitut.org/journal/index.php/jms/issue/view/20