Children who come to the attention of the juvenile justice system are a challenging and underserved population. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help juvenile justice professionals understand and provide trauma-focused services to these youth. These resources include tools and materials for building skills and increasing knowledge about childhood trauma to help judges, attorneys, law enforcement, probation officers, frontline residential staff, mental health personnel, and caregivers understand and respond to the needs of traumatized children. In addition to the NCTSN resources highlighted below, Justice System Professionals can learn more about creating trauma-informed Justice Systems in the Trauma-Informed Care section of this website.
Helps programs who work with justice-involved youth better understand the steps to take to recognize and respond to the trauma-related needs of youth, family members, and staff working in the justice system.
Gives details about the growing number of girls in the juvenile justice.
Describes evidence-informed interventions for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
Outlines the historical context of racial disparities and highlights how systems can move forward to reduce these racial disparities, including by framing the issue so that practical and pro-active discussion can move beyond assigning blame.
Outlines the role of family engagement in creating trauma-informed juvenile justice systems.
Outlines the environment of care in juvenile institutions.
Outlines practice examples for continuity of care and collaboration across systems, a vital activity for youth involved in multiple service systems. This brief, written by Macon Stewart from the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform describes its Youth Practice Model.
Outlines the importance of trauma-informed assessment and intervention in the juvenile justice system.
Provides an overview of the effects of polyvictimization on youth involved in the juvenile justice system. This webinar offers approaches to identifying this highly vulnerable subgroup and providing them and their families with help in recovering from victimization.
Provides an introduction to the NCTSN Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice Roundtable.
Highlights the importance for court-based advocates to understand the serious consequences that trauma histories can have for birth parents and the subsequent potential impact on their parenting.
Provides judges with useful questions and guidelines to help make decisions based on the emerging scientific findings in the traumatic stress field. These bench cards assist judges and court-appointed professionals doing mental health assessment of children.