A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers
Objectives: There is a risk of re-traumatisation for survivors of trauma who engage with the Justice system, given their high propensity to encounter situations that trigger traumatic responses. While a growing body of research has explored the experience of trauma informed practice (TIP) from servi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2441075 |
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| author | Nicola Cogan Dwight Tse Melanie Finlayson Samantha Lawley Jacqueline Black Rhys Hewitson Christiana Stergiou Suzanne Aziz Helen Hamer Cherrie Short |
| author_facet | Nicola Cogan Dwight Tse Melanie Finlayson Samantha Lawley Jacqueline Black Rhys Hewitson Christiana Stergiou Suzanne Aziz Helen Hamer Cherrie Short |
| author_sort | Nicola Cogan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: There is a risk of re-traumatisation for survivors of trauma who engage with the Justice system, given their high propensity to encounter situations that trigger traumatic responses. While a growing body of research has explored the experience of trauma informed practice (TIP) from service user perspectives, little research has incorporated the views and experiences of practitioners working in the Justice system in terms of the implementation of TIP in their service setting.Method: An exploratory, qualitative research design based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews. One to one, online interviews were conducted with senior Justice workers (n = 22) who had undertaken theoretically informed TIP training and had responsibility for its implementation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using an inductive, reflexive thematic approach.Results: The themes identified were: (1) Supporting staff and user knowledge and well-being (training, trust, safety, reflection), (2) Recognition in the value of TIP (reflected in the resources, supervision, infrastructure and physical environment), (3) Encouraging flexible, creative and collaborative ways of working (overcoming resistance).Conclusions: The findings have implications at the service user, provider and organisational level. Emphasis is placed on the importance of overcoming barriers to implementing TIP through adopting a whole systems approach that encourages collaborative working while supporting staff well-being, access to ongoing TIP training, supervision and resources to establish a safe working environment. Implementing a strengths-based, non-pathologising approach to TIP service delivery within the Justice system is essential. Further longitudinal work to explore the mechanisms by which TIP can help reduce re-traumatisation to service users and providers is recommended. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-87976e9742ed4af69c3241e5da94e082 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-87976e9742ed4af69c3241e5da94e0822025-08-21T10:19:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2024.2441075A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workersNicola Cogan0Dwight Tse1Melanie Finlayson2Samantha Lawley3Jacqueline Black4Rhys Hewitson5Christiana Stergiou6Suzanne Aziz7Helen Hamer8Cherrie Short9Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UKSchool of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USAThe Sliver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, NY, USAObjectives: There is a risk of re-traumatisation for survivors of trauma who engage with the Justice system, given their high propensity to encounter situations that trigger traumatic responses. While a growing body of research has explored the experience of trauma informed practice (TIP) from service user perspectives, little research has incorporated the views and experiences of practitioners working in the Justice system in terms of the implementation of TIP in their service setting.Method: An exploratory, qualitative research design based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews. One to one, online interviews were conducted with senior Justice workers (n = 22) who had undertaken theoretically informed TIP training and had responsibility for its implementation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using an inductive, reflexive thematic approach.Results: The themes identified were: (1) Supporting staff and user knowledge and well-being (training, trust, safety, reflection), (2) Recognition in the value of TIP (reflected in the resources, supervision, infrastructure and physical environment), (3) Encouraging flexible, creative and collaborative ways of working (overcoming resistance).Conclusions: The findings have implications at the service user, provider and organisational level. Emphasis is placed on the importance of overcoming barriers to implementing TIP through adopting a whole systems approach that encourages collaborative working while supporting staff well-being, access to ongoing TIP training, supervision and resources to establish a safe working environment. Implementing a strengths-based, non-pathologising approach to TIP service delivery within the Justice system is essential. Further longitudinal work to explore the mechanisms by which TIP can help reduce re-traumatisation to service users and providers is recommended.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2441075Trauma informed practicestaff wellbeingJustice workersJustice systemsecondary traumavicarious trauma |
| spellingShingle | Nicola Cogan Dwight Tse Melanie Finlayson Samantha Lawley Jacqueline Black Rhys Hewitson Christiana Stergiou Suzanne Aziz Helen Hamer Cherrie Short A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers European Journal of Psychotraumatology Trauma informed practice staff wellbeing Justice workers Justice system secondary trauma vicarious trauma |
| title | A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers |
| title_full | A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers |
| title_fullStr | A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers |
| title_short | A journey towards a trauma informed and responsive Justice system: the perspectives and experiences of senior Justice workers |
| title_sort | journey towards a trauma informed and responsive justice system the perspectives and experiences of senior justice workers |
| topic | Trauma informed practice staff wellbeing Justice workers Justice system secondary trauma vicarious trauma |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2441075 |
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