An Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Intervention in Secure Juvenile Detention: The Impact on Youth-Level Incidents of Violence

Few studies have examined the impact of trauma-specific interventions in juvenile justice settings, and juvenile justice-related outcomes are infrequently assessed. This study examined the impact of implementing youth skills groups (Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation [STAIR])...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Baetz, Carly Lyn (Author) ; Surko, Michael (Author) ; Guo, Fei (Author) ; Marr, Mollie (Author) ; Workman, Sara (Author) ; Havens, Jennifer (Author) ; Horwitz, Sarah McCue (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Criminal justice and behavior
Year: 2025, Volume: 52, Issue: 5, Pages: 716-733
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Violence
Youth
Trauma
PTSD
Juvenile Justice
Correctional Staff
Description
Summary:Few studies have examined the impact of trauma-specific interventions in juvenile justice settings, and juvenile justice-related outcomes are infrequently assessed. This study examined the impact of implementing youth skills groups (Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation [STAIR]) and trauma training for staff (Think Trauma) on individual-level assaults in two secure detention facilities. The impact of the intervention was primarily evidenced in one facility among Black youth. In the same facility, the staff training (pre-skills groups) cohort and skills group cohort (post-staff training) evidenced a significantly greater reduction in violent incident rates as compared to the pre-intervention cohort. These findings highlight the importance of trauma-focused training for staff as a promising step toward reducing violence and improving staff members’ responses to a large subset of vulnerable youth.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/00938548241297281