![]() 9 Research also shows that childhood stress and trauma can impair the development of executive functioning, which has been found to increase rates of physical aggression. For example, trauma exposure has been associated with an increased risk for behavioral and physical health conditions and reduced engagement with health care services among people who are incarcerated and the general population. The “three E’s” included in the SAMHSA definition distinguish trauma from other crises or negative life events because of the lasting effects the event(s) can have on a person. According to SAMHSA, “individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.” 8 Because of this, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) established a broad definition for what trauma can look like for various people. While trauma is widespread among people in the criminal justice system, it is also experienced in many different ways. By employing this approach, they can help to reduce recidivism and incidents of violence while also improving service engagement and recovery. This brief explores how criminal justice professionals can take a trauma-informed approach to their work at each point of contact in the justice system. Then, they can take steps to minimize the long-term effects of exposure to traumatic events by implementing trauma-informed policies and practices. To better support people who are impacted by trauma, these professionals must work with their behavioral health counterparts to better understand how trauma influences behavior. However, with increased resources, support, and training, criminal justice professionals can begin to adequately identify and address trauma histories. ![]() They have also been reluctant at times to acknowledge the vicarious and direct trauma that staff can experience while working in the criminal justice system. Despite this pervasiveness, criminal justice professionals have often struggled to recognize and respond to trauma among this population.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |