{"id":3429,"date":"2026-08-12T05:35:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T09:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/?p=3429"},"modified":"2026-08-12T05:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T09:35:59","slug":"rethinking-how-we-work-with-justice-impacted-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/2026\/08\/12\/rethinking-how-we-work-with-justice-impacted-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking How We Work With Justice-Impacted Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

When working with justice-impacted youth, I think it is important to look beyond the behavior and consider what may have happened to the young person. A youth may be labeled as aggressive, defiant, or disrespectful without anyone asking what experiences may have contributed to those behaviors. Trauma-informed practice encourages us to ask not only, \u201cWhat did this young person do?\u201d but also, \u201cWhat happened to this young person?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One recommendation for better integrating trauma-informed practice into juvenile justice is providing mandatory trauma-informed training for everyone who works with youth, including law enforcement officers, probation officers, judges, detention staff, and counselors. When professionals understand how trauma can influence behavior, they may be better equipped to respond with de-escalation, consistency, and empathy instead of relying solely on punishment. This does not mean eliminating accountability. Rather, accountability can be more effective when youth are also given the support and skills they need to understand and change their behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important recommendation is implementing trauma screening as early as possible. Ford et al. (2007) found that trauma exposure is extremely common among youth involved in the juvenile justice system, yet many young people are never identified or connected with appropriate treatment. Early screening can help professionals recognize trauma-related needs and prevent symptoms from being mistaken for simple misconduct. However, screening should lead to actual services, including evidence-based trauma treatment and other appropriate mental health support.<\/span><\/p>\n

The documentary\u00a0<\/span>Juvenile: Five Stories<\/span><\/em>\u00a0provides a real-world example of why this approach is necessary. The youth featured in the film experienced abuse, sexual assault, unstable homes, and other traumatic circumstances before or during their involvement with the juvenile justice system. Shimaine’s story particularly stood out to me because after experiencing sexual abuse by her stepfather, she was not believed by her mother and was eventually detained because there was nowhere else for her to go. Her experience raises an important question: What might have happened differently if her trauma and need for safety had been recognized earlier?<\/span><\/p>\n

The film also demonstrates why rehabilitation should involve more than punishment or individual counseling. When appropriate, youth may need family support, mentoring, educational assistance, restorative justice opportunities, and access to mental health and medical services. van der Kolk (2014) emphasizes the importance of safety, supportive relationships, and regaining a sense of control in the healing process. Creating predictable environments where youth feel respected and heard can help them develop healthier coping skills and make better decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, trauma-informed juvenile justice requires a shift in mindset. Understanding a young person’s trauma does not excuse harmful behavior or remove responsibility. Instead, it provides context that can help professionals respond more effectively. If the goal of juvenile justice is rehabilitation, then youth need more than consequences. They need opportunities to heal, develop healthy coping skills, build supportive relationships, and create a different future. By combining accountability with compassion, early intervention, and trauma-informed care, the juvenile justice system can move beyond simply responding to youth behavior and begin addressing the experiences that may have contributed to it.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References:<\/p>\n

Ford, J. D., Chapman, J. F., Hawke, J., & Albert, D. (2007).\u00a0Trauma among youth in the juvenile justice system: Critical issues and new directions<\/em>. National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice.<\/p>\n

Selvidge, J. S., & Fleming, S. (Directors). (2023).\u00a0Juvenile: Five stories<\/em>\u00a0[Film]. New Day Films.<\/p>\n

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When working with justice-impacted youth, I think it is important to look beyond the behavior and consider what may have happened to the young person. A youth may be labeled as aggressive, defiant, or disrespectful without anyone asking what experiences may have contributed to those behaviors. Trauma-informed practice encourages us to ask not only, \u201cWhat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3429"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3430,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429\/revisions\/3430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/daniellerousseau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}