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The report presents key findings from a review of the research and practice literature concerning trauma in the backgrounds of young people who offend. It aims to highlight what is currently known about trauma within the population of young offenders, and to identify the importance of this knowledge for effective resettlement practice. It focuses o...
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... time, and at all stages of the Criminal Justice process (police custody, courts and probation) research has indicated higher rates of mental illness among those who have contact with the system than among the general population ( Gudjonsson et al., 1993;Mair and May, 1997;Shaw et al., 1999). Figure 3 illustrates the prevalence of a range of mental health and related dimensions within adult prison populations as compared with the general population. The above data reveals very much higher mental illness levels among adult prisoners than in the general population; these kinds of statistics are commonly found in the literature on prisoners of both sexes and across the age span. ...
Citations
... A trauma-informed approach is a universal approach that, at its core, is designed to do no further harm to those who have experienced traumatic life events (Liddle et al., 2016). The assumptions that underpin trauma-informed youth justice are, as a result, somewhat different from those that provide the foundation for the delivery of more traditional criminal justice services. ...
Findings of high rates of complex trauma among justice-involved young people have engendered interest in developing trauma-informed youth justice systems. Although there have been several reviews of trauma-informed practice in youth justice settings, uncertainty remains about whether this approach can produce the outcomes expected of youth justice services. In this study we summarize findings from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide an overview of evidence relevant to implementing trauma-informed youth justice. We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews published between 2017 and 2023 that included group-based primary studies of trauma-informed interventions for justice-involved young people. Reviews were located via searches of PsycINFO, PubMedCentral, Embase, Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text, and ProQuest. Data extracted from each review included the number and type of primary studies reviewed, and outcomes related to trauma symptomatology, mental health and wellbeing, and justice system involvement. Nine systematic reviews met our inclusion criteria. Improvements in trauma symptoms, mental health and wellbeing, and justice system involvement were documented in each review. The strongest evidence related to the impact of trauma-focused interventions on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, but less evidence was available to demonstrate outcomes of organizational level and systemic components of trauma-informed practice. Each review highlighted the need to strengthen the methodological quality of primary studies. Trauma-informed practice should be seriously considered as part of any effort to implement evidence-based youth justice. This should extend beyond treatment of trauma symptomatology to incorporate a broader approach to trauma-informed practice that is organizationally embedded.
... It was very important that the tool would assist in achieving the aims of the study; a crucial aspect of which was to draw out a young person's voice and cultivate a deep understanding of their experiences of crime and violence, as well as youth justice services. Many criminalised youths have experienced adverse childhood experiences and past trauma, and these are often central to understanding their offending behaviours (Liddle et al., 2016). Consequently, it was important that the tool was designed to explore sensitive topics with young people carefully. ...
This paper considers the value of a design-led methodological approach, adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate online interviews with young people (aged 15–17) who had been involved in crime and violence in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. The development of an original digital workshop and set of exercises (referred to as a tool) using interactive methods engaged criminalised youths online and gathered qualitative data regarding their experiences of crime and violence. The research demonstrated how principles of design can be used to empower participants, overcome communication barriers, obtain rich data through online methods, and move away from a traditional ‘interview’ experience, creating a safer space for more genuine accounts and narratives. Thus, this paper suggests that researchers of youth crime and violence, and social scientists more broadly, may wish to consider how adopting design-led methodologies can allow places and spaces for participants’ narratives to develop.
... El enfoque categórico es de particular interés porque no ha recibido tanta atención por parte de los investigadores como el enfoque probabilístico y amerita una reseña de sus marcos analíticos, métodos y resultados. Además, la coexistencia de la victimización y la conducta problemática en un período de hasta un año ha llevado a algunos investigadores y profesionales a considerar que la combinación de las dos experiencias debe considerarse como un trauma para el joven (Bonnie et al., 2012;Farrell & Zimmerman, 2017;Liddle et al., 2016;Sickmund, 2016; U.S. Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence, 2012). Si bien es la victimización la que normalmente se asocia con el trauma, también es posible ver la comisión de conductas problemáticas como algo traumático para el joven (Cauffman et al., 1998;ver también Gianesini & Brighi, 2015). ...
Tradicionalmente, la Criminología y la Victimología han tratado a la persona como infractor o víctima; sin embargo, una proporción significativa de individuos podría tener los dos tipos de experiencia en un período relativamente corto de tiempo. Este artículo reporta los resultados de una revisión sistemática (scoping review) de los estudios que abordan la coexistencia de la victimización y la conducta delictiva. Identificamos 59 estudios cuyos métodos y resultados se resumen y se acompañan con algunos comentarios críticos.
... For justice-involved young adults, statistics suggest up to 45% prevalence of ADHD (Harpin & Young, 2012), compared to a 4% prevalence in the overall UK adult population (NICE, 2021). Furthermore, the evidence clearly indicates a higher prevalence of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders (Chitsabesan & Hughes, 2016) in addition to often complex biographies and multiple adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs (Baidawi & Piquero, 2021;Case, 2018;Liddle et al., 2016). Justice-involved young adults are typically the recipients of many professional services, yet there is extremely limited evidence of what they say they need from justice, health, and social care professionals to support, advocate, and achieve positive outcomes. ...
... While children and young people engaged with health, education, and social services will often be co-opted in service planning, Smithson and Jones (2021) note how "young offenders" do not experience such participation. Indeed, denying them opportunity arguably further blames and demonizes them for the harms and multiple structural oppressions they have experienced (Crook, 2012;Liddle et al., 2016). Custody is arguably the antithesis of inclusion, so challenging accepted modes of participation and co-production and negotiating breaks from the prison regime became the norm each week. ...
Justice-involved young adults represent the most excluded, stigmatized, and traumatized group amongst their peers and are considered an especially hard-to-reach and hidden population (Case & Haines, 2015; Skinner-Osei et al., 2019). Beresford (2013) highlights how those who face barriers to their involvement in wider society are also more likely to be excluded from participatory arrangements in society. This brief report shares key lessons from a collaborative project between justice-involved young adults and undergraduate social work students, culminating in them collectively producing a learning resource (DVD) articulating the justice-involved young adults’ experiences and needs from professional services.
... Needs relating to their mental health can remain unacknowledged and unmet, with differences in thresholds and care pathways between geographical areas, in links between health and local-area youth justice and youth offending teams and services, and the availability of clinical input from mental health professionals to practitioners in the field (Jack, Lanskey, & Harvey, 2015;Young Minds 2013;Walsh et al. 2011;Chitsabesan et al., 2006;Harrington et al., 2005). Important mediating factors in this state of affairs are professional recognition of early adversity and trauma, and the training of practitioners to help them understand the impact of adversity in subsequent mental health difficulties and offending (Evans, 2020; Youth Justice Board for England andWales, 2017a, 2017b;Liddle et al., 2016;Wright, Liddle, & Goodfellow, 2016;Skuse & Matthew, 2015;Wright & Liddle 2014;Young Minds, 2013;Day, Hibbert, & Camden, 2008). ...
This article describes an innovative initiative based on principles of trauma-informed care which involves clinicians from a specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) team providing input to youth justice services. At a local level, the project seeks to help address recognised gaps in service provision whereby children and young people involved with the criminal justice system are afforded inconsistent access to care and treatment, yet recognised as being at increased risk for having experienced early adversity and suffering mental ill-health. The article takes stock of the project’s development via reference to three interlinked strands of work it incorporates: work supporting staff; direct work with children and young people; and training workshops for professionals. Reference is also made to the findings of an ongoing evaluation of the project. In so doing, the article adds further support to arguments for a senior clinician role in CAMHS provision linked to youth justice services, and the necessity of staff training to embed this role and support the recognition of trauma.
... There has been a growing awareness in recent years of the importance of being traumainformed when dealing with children who have a history of ACEs. This is especially the case with those agencies who work with justice-involved children (Glendinning et al., 2021;Liddle et al., 2016). Being trauma-informed means recognising and acknowledging the impact that ACEs can have on an individual and providing appropriate support to that person. ...
... Since the mid-2010s, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of delivering trauma-informed practice with justice-involved children (Cordis Bright, 2017;Glendinning et al., 2021;Liddle et al., 2016). However, the actual delivery of a trauma-informed approach in a youth justice context can be challenging. ...
... With the increased awareness of the link between ACEs and offending behaviour (Cordis Bright, 2017;Glendinning et al., 2021;Liddle et al., 2016;Wright et al., 2016), the youth justice service has arguably 'got loads better at trauma-informed practice' (Drama therapist 2) over the last five years. Nevertheless, all of the youth justice workers that were interviewed for this study felt that the same could not be said for the partner agencies that they work with. ...
... The concept of a trauma-informed approach has been developed relatively recently in youth justice discourses within the UK (Liddle et al, 2016). Initially led by increased psychological understandings of trauma within mental health treatment fields (for example, Harris & Fallot, 2001;Reeves, 2015), crossover and dissemination between academic and practice fields has meant that the trauma-informed approach has now gained a foothold within youth justice (Ford & Blaustein, 2013). ...
... Young people who enter the justice system have been exposed to a variety of traumatic experiences (Liddle et al, 2016), and differing approaches to responding to youth crime have been attempted over the decades (Stephenson, Giller & Brown, 2010). Despite reductions in convictions in recent years (YJB/MoJ, 2018;Pitts, 2015), youth offending inevitably continues, including serious youth violence (Walsh, 2018;Home Office, 2018). ...
... The concept of a 'trauma-informed approach' has entered the lexicon of youth justice but there remains a lack of widely agreed definition of what such an approach must entail (Branson et al, 2017) as well as something of a lack of an accepted definition of trauma itself, in part due to the multitude of disciplines which discuss the issue (Liddle et al, 2016). ...
This study is an evaluation of the Trauma Informed Group Work Programme developed by the Lewisham Youth Offending Service. It was commissioned by the London Borough of Lewisham with funding from the Youth Justice Board.
... Too often, girls who offend in response to sexual exploitation have been criminalised and afforded inadequate police protection (Phoenix, 2012). Therefore, strategies for the effective engagement of girls in resettlement processes, may differ from those suited to boys , which highlights the importance of responding to their specific resettlement needs through supportive, trust-based relationships Liddle et al, 2016). Evidence from the 'Beyond Youth Custody' project has established that broader relationship-focused work is crucial to the child's identity shift, and thus to desistance. ...
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/report/Child_First_Justice_the_research_evidence-base_Full_report_/14152040
... Young people who offend are commonly from highly disadvantaged backgrounds, live in areas with few amenities and have reduced access to educational services and employment opportunities which could otherwise further their individual development [1][2][3]. In addition, young people who offend often have complex health needs, with trauma and adverse childhood experiences such as parental abuse and neglect common in their backgrounds [4] (for a comprehensive review). These young people consequently have an increased likelihood of looked-after experience than their peers and are at greater risk of mental health conditions [5]. ...
International research evidence has firmly established a high prevalence of language disorder in young offender populations. Less is known about young offenders’ perspectives on their own language abilities. The study recruited an opportunity sample of 10 young men in custody at a Scottish youth offending institution who had recent experience of segregation. This mixed-methods study investigated participants’ views on their language and communication abilities to inform future support and intervention, and formal language assessment was also administered to investigate indicative prevalence of language disorder within the sample. It focused on their communication with professionals and peers in justice, education and welfare settings. Results of standardised language assessment indicated the presence of language disorder in 44% (n = 4) of the sample (n = 9). Thematic analysis of interview data led to formulation of three themes: Valuing Communication, Literacy and Learning; Exerting Control; and Seeking Support. The first theme is discussed with reference to Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model. Participants offered reflective and rich views on their lived experience. They provided perspectives on features of successful interaction with peers and authority figures, importance of effective communication and the difficulties they encountered. This study argues for additional communication support for young people in the justice system.
... The adverse experiences of many girls before, during and following periods in custody require resettlement work to focus on rebuilding or strengthening resilience by identifying and responding to their needs including pre-existing trauma, mental ill-health and emotional difficulties Liddle et al., 2016). Sexual exploitation is a feature of the lives of many incarcerated girls, with 60 per cent of females entering custody having assessed CSE concerns (Ministry of Justice, 2017), so the lack of follow-up support provided on release from custody is an issue of significant concern. ...
The numbers of girls entering the youth justice system and the secure estate in England and Wales have fallen rapidly over the past decade. The sharp decline in numbers is very welcome, but girls have become increasingly overlooked by the penal system and their diminishing minority in custody has exacerbated the marginalisation of their needs. While the youth justice system has been under a great deal of scrutiny in recent years, there has evidently been a lack of specific attention given to girls. Extensive changes to youth custody and the broader youth and criminal justice systems have been recommended in a number of reviews, but these have not specifically addressed gender-specific needs or considered the implications for girls in custody. This is particularly pertinent due to the lack of available data about the nature of recent custodial sentencing, remand and placements for girls.
This study aimed to address this gap by analysing recent custody data, to investigate how penal detention is being used for girls from a gendered perspective. This research will analyse the offences and types and lengths of custodial sentences; examine patterns in the use of custodial remand; analyse patterns in the placements of girls into custodial establishments and measure the distances that girls were held from home. This report examines this new data and then considers the implications of the findings in light of existing knowledge.
