Trauma-Informed Probation Supervision: Using a Pre-implementation Assessment to Inform Agency and Research Priorities

• In Event: Applying and Implementing a Science Framework in Assessing the Effects of Child-Serving and Corrections Settings

Abstract

People involved in the criminal legal system experience high rates of trauma leading to inhibited self-regulation, increased impulsivity, and recidivism. Probation agencies are considering trauma-informed supervision to improve these outcomes; however, agencies need greater specification about the core components of trauma-informed supervision and how to implement these approaches within corrections. To address these gaps, the research team conducted a pre-implementation assessment, including rapid qualitative analysis of 25 semi-structured interviews with probation administrators and officers involved in a trauma-informed supervision initiative. Participants described the importance of trauma-informed supervision, anticipated implementation challenges, potential strategies, and the expected impact of trauma-informed supervision. Participants emphasized the importance of addressing trauma during supervision, citing its potential to promote desistance. Anticipated implementation challenges included variation in officer familiarity with the content, inconsistent utilization of trauma-informed supervision strategies across jurisdictions, and differing levels of leadership support. Potential strategies included engaging leaders as implementation champions, involving leadership in trainings, and facilitating follow-up sessions about applying supervision strategies. This study demonstrates how a pre-implementation assessment shaped the development and implementation of trauma-informed community supervision. Actionable data can be obtained through early engagement of officers and agency leadership to specify trauma-informed supervision and the implementation process.

Authors

• Caroline Harris, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Allison Waters, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Tonya Van Deinse, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill