Alycia Welch

Alycia Welch's research focuses on the safe and humane treatment of people in custody, with a particular focus on women and individuals living with behavioral health challenges. She has nearly 20 years of experience managing multipartner projects reforming the justice and behavioral health systems. She directed a transitional housing program for women exiting prison or jail, developed an alternative to incarceration program for young adults, oversaw a multistate federally funded initiative providing training and technical assistance on behavioral health and criminal justice issues, and designed multiple studies assessing the impact of community-based programs on those who are justice-involved.

The recipient of several national policy research awards, Welch served as policy analyst for two members of the Texas House of Representatives and has authored numerous reports for state and local government officials, corrections administrators and advocates that have been selected for inclusion in several publications and featured in major national news outlets.

She co-leads the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab (PJIL), and helps to oversee PJIL's strategy, operations and research portfolio. She leads some of PJIL's major projects, including those focused on women in custody and individuals living with behavioral health challenges. She also co-instructs some of PJIL's affiliate graduate courses at the LBJ School, alongside PJIL’s director, Michele Deitch.

Welch is a proud alum of the LBJ School, where she received her Master of Public Affairs while simultaneously earning her Master of Science in Social Work at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.