Laying the Groundwork: Conceptualizing a Trauma-Informed System of Care in Juvenile Detention

ABSTRACT

Youth involved in the juvenile-justice system experience trauma at a disproportionately higher rate compared with the general population. Posttraumatic stress reactions place youth at greater risk for penetrating deeper into the juvenile justice system and being placed in secure detention settings. Juvenile detention settings with a systemic approach to addressing youth traumatic stress reactions promote an environment positioned to support the physical and psychological safety of youth and detention center staff. This article reviews key elements of a trauma-informed juvenile detention system and explores implications for trauma-informed interventions and cross-system collaboration.

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Isaiah Pickens

Isaiah Pickens, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Assistant Director of the Service Systems Program at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS), the coordinating site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).