NCJ Number
232138
Date Published
June 2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the prevalence and impact of trauma and traumatic stress among youth in the juvenile justice system and describes emerging responses for identifying and treating these problems.
Abstract
Child traumatic stress occurs when children and adolescents are exposed to traumatic events or situations, and this exposure overwhelms their ability to cope with what they have experienced. Youth exposed to traumatic events exhibit a wide range of symptoms, presenting with not just internalizing problems, such as depression or anxiety, but also externalizing problems like aggression, conduct problems, and oppositional or defiant behavior. Exposure to trauma is often overlooked in the assessment and treatment of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Given the reported high rates of incidence, screening for trauma should be routinely performed on youth at their earliest point of contact with the juvenile justice system. Further, programming for treating trauma disorders among youth now exists and should be available to youth involved with the juvenile justice system who have histories of traumatic experiences. Traumatic stress services have the capacity to relieve the suffering caused by psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system, as well as to potentially reduce future health, mental health, and correctional costs. Increased emphasis within the juvenile justice system on trauma treatment, outcomes, and research is a fiscally sound and clinically responsible idea. 58 references