Statewide Prevalence, Nature, and Effects of Trauma History among Youth Entering the Juvenile Justice System

• In Event: Vulnerable Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: Opportunities for Improving Treatment Policy and Practices

Abstract

Despite the wealth of knowledge connecting trauma and juvenile justice involvement, few studies have systematically assessed the prevalence of trauma histories of youth entering the juvenile justice system across an entire state, a step that can help inform responses to law violating behavior among youth who have experienced trauma. This study uses statewide administrative data from Washington State to document the prevalence, nature, and consequences of trauma among youth adjudicated and ordered to probation for the first time between 2011 and 2015. During the five-year study period approximately 16,000 youth started probation for the first time and received a standardized risk assessment, which was used to assess trauma histories. Traumatic experiences were categorized into four groups: (1) child maltreatment; (2) separation from family; (3) vicarious violence; and (4) other forms of trauma. Preliminary analyses show that, while nearly 90% of the youth had a history of at least one traumatic experience, vicarious violence and separation from family were the most commonly experienced forms of trauma. The nature of trauma histories varied by demographic factors and impacted youths’ progression through the probation process, demonstrating the importance of assessing and addressing trauma histories in the juvenile justice system.

Authors

• B.K. Elizabeth Kim, University of Southern California

• Amanda B. Gilman, Washington State Center for Court Research