Stigma of youth offenders: Correctional staff views on trauma exposure

• In Event: Roundtable: Stigmatization and Victimization in Criminal Justice Environments

Abstract

Youth confined by the juvenile justice system often have a higher exposure to trauma when compared with youth outside the system. Specifically, juvenile justice youth are more likely to have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, along with household adversities like parental substance abuse, exposure to domestic violence, and so forth. Juvenile correctional staff play an essential role in encouraging youth to seek and complete treatment while at the facility. However, correctional staff perceptions of mental health and the impact trauma exposure may have on these youth remains understudied. The current study assessed views on juvenile mental health among a sample of 54 juvenile correctional staff (Mage = 39.68, SD = 11.50). A group of self-constructed questions assessing views on exposure to trauma were also included. Results suggest correctional staff somewhat to strongly agree youth exposure to trauma plays a role in their engagement in delinquency (M = 1.70, SD = .77). Furthermore, staff agree male and female youth experience trauma differently (M = ,1.92 SD = .81), and that trauma may have an impact
on youth mental health as a whole (M = 1.81, SD = .2.74). Future directions and implications for the findings will be discussed.

Authors

• Ashley Lockwood, Fort Hays State University

• Brooke Mann, Fort Hays State University

• April N. Terry, Fort Hays State University