Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice in the United States

Although most young offenders have experienced some form of trauma, the juvenile justice system in the United States is ill-equipped to deal with the effects of trauma, and its focus on punishment often further traumatizes youth. This text presents a much-needed alternative to the current system, advocating trauma-informed interventions based on principles of healing and restorative justice.

Judah Oudshoorn addresses the context of youth offending by examining both individual trauma—including its emotional, cognitive, and behavioural effects—and collective trauma. The volume tackles some of the most challenging problems facing juvenile justice in the United States today, especially the ongoing cycles of intergenerational trauma caused by patriarchal violence and the over-incarceration of African American, Latino, and Native American youth.

The author deftly demonstrates how a trauma-informed approach to juvenile justice can work toward preventing crime and healing offenders, victims, and communities. Featuring a foreword written by Howard Zehr, case stories from the author’s own work with victims and offenders, questions for reflection, glossaries of key terms, and lists of recommended readings, this engaging text is the ideal resource for students in the field of juvenile justice.