Trauma-Informed Assessment and Intervention Are Key Elements of a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice System

by the experience of trauma. There are three dimensions of trauma on which such an assessment might focus: a) whether a youth has been exposed to potentially traumatizing events; b) whether a youth displays symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress; and c) whether a youth meets the criteria for a formal diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as per the DSM-IV or ICD-10 diagnostic manuals. Although often equated (e.g., the presumption that a youth who has been exposed to adverse events must therefore necessarily have PTSD), these three targets involve assessing for different aspects of trauma, and may thus arrive at different conclusions that in turn might lead to different intervention plans. In addition, although assessment is a term generally reserved for an evaluation that is performed by a trained mental health practitioner, we can also include screening under this heading, a procedure that can be carried out by anyone involved in the juvenile justice system (e.g., judges, probation officers, detention staff), with no specialized training required. Screening is appropriate for an evaluation of the extent to which a youth has been exposed to traumatic events or displays symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and thus warrants referral for a more in-depth assessment. In contrast, a qualified mental health professional is needed to determine a youth’s diagnostic status as well as to cast a wider net in assessing not only for trauma exposure and PTSD but for the related disorders to which trauma increases youths’ vulnerability. Screening generally takes place through the administration of a brief questionnaire, either through youth self-report or interview, whereas the “gold standard” for diagnosis is the administration of a structured diagnostic interview protocol. Particularly when we include screening in the equation, trauma-informed assessment is relevant for the practice of every aspect of the juvenile justice system (e.g., diversion, probation, court, detention).