Ron Hoffman
Associate Professor

Dr. Ron Hoffman

He/him/his

Biography

Dr. Ron Hoffman served as an instructor and coordinator of mental health training at the Ontario Police College, a centralized police training facility operated by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. During his time there, he coordinated several programs, including Basic Constable Training (recruit), Advanced Patrol Training (refresher), Coach Officer Training (field training officer), and Crime Prevention Training. He was also responsible for reviewing Coroners’ Inquest recommendations related to police training and procedures. Throughout his career, he has held various positions such as police officer, probation and parole officer, child and youth worker, and community college teacher.

Positions

Full-time Faculty
Faculty of Education and Professional Studies

Education

PhD, Waterloo University
2013
Areas of specialization
Police Contact with Persons with Mental Health Issues
Vulnerable Populations in the Criminal Justice System
InterRAI Brief Mental Health Screener

Current University Committees & Engagement

  • Senator, Nipissing University
  •  EPS Faculty Council

Teaching Areas

Undergraduate Programs

  • Criminal Justice

Research

Research Interests

  • Police contact with persons with mental health issues
  • Vulnerable populations in the criminal justice system
  • InterRAI Brief Mental Health Screener (BMHS)

Current Research Projects / Labs

  • Validation of the BMHS
  • Analyzing data from BMHS database

Collaborations / Affiliations

  • Canadian Society for Evidence-based Policing, Member
  • Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association, Member
  • interRAI, Full member (Fellow)
  • International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS), Member
  • International Network of Mental Health (iNMH), subcommittee of interRAI, Member
  • Mental Health and Law committee (MHL), subcommittee of iNMH, Member

Publications

Books

Hoffman, R., & Siegel, L.J. (2026). CRIM, An Introduction to Criminology. Fifth Canadian Edition. Toronto, ON: Cengage.

Articles in Refereed Journals

Hoffman, R., Brown, G.P., Barbaree, G.P., & Hirdes, J. (awaiting peer review). “Psychometric Validity of the interRAI Brief Mental Health Screener for Police Response.” Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.

Hoffman, A., Hoffman, R., Smith, T., Brown, G., & Hirdes, J. (2024). “Mental Health Issues of Children and Youth Encountered by Police.” Journal of Community Safety and Well-being, 9(2).  Read more

Olmstead, B., Hoffman, R., Brown, G., & Hirdes, J. (2022). “Characteristics of Persons with Serious Mental Disorders Who Have Repeat Contact with Police Officers.” International Journal of Law & Psychiatry.

Hoffman, R., Harman, J., Kinsell, H., & Brown, G. (2021, October 18). “Costs and Cost Savings Associated with the Police Use of the interRAI Brief Mental Health Screener.” Frontiers in Psychiatry (Open Access). Read more