photo of Alexander Testa
Alexander Testa
HE/HIS/HIM
Affiliated Scholar
Justice and Safety​ Division

Alexander Testa is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health and an affiliated scholar at the Urban Institute. He has research expertise on the health consequences of involvement with the criminal legal system, including how experiences with arrest, conviction, and incarceration influence the health and health behaviors of individuals, families, and communities. Additionally, Testa’s research addresses how personal and vicarious exposure to crime and violence affect health. He has published more than 145 peer-reviewed articles in leading health and criminology journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Criminology, and JAMA Pediatrics. Testa earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany, a master’s of public policy degree from American University, and a master’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Research and Evidence
Justice and Safety Health Policy Family and Financial Well-Being Technology and Data
Expertise
Research Methods and Data Analysis Health Care Coverage, Access, and Affordability
Tags
Behavioral health and justice Alternatives to incarceration Corrections Crime and justice analytics Delinquency and crime LGBTQ+ people and criminal justice Racial and ethnic disparities in criminal justice Criminal prosecution Food deserts and food supply Food insecurity and hunger Hunger and food assistance Health equity Public health Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Mental health Mass incarceration Incarcerated adults Incarcerated women Incarceration Prisons