Assessing Youth Justice System Prevention Strategies for At-Risk Young People Who Have Experienced Childhood Trauma
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By Olta Gjini,
London Metropolitan University.
This dissertation explores the critical relationship between childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and entry into youth justice, specifically looking at those youth who are deemed at risk for involvement in justice. In terms of the developmental and socio-ecological approach, this study asserts that the reduction of youth offending is not possible to be attributed to individual behaviours or personal responsibility. It is influenced by the interaction of psychological, social and structural factors such as trauma, poverty, educational exclusion and insufficient welfare provision.
A qualitative secondary research design was used, which involved thematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature, policy frameworks and programme evaluations. Four main themes emerged: childhood trauma as a vulnerability process, the link between trauma and social disadvantage, the impact of institutional responses on processes towards criminalisation, and the effectiveness of preventative and trauma-informed responses.
The results suggest that ACEs are not themselves a causative factor in offending but can add to disadvantage when combined with other ACEs. Youth may exhibit behaviours that institutional systems may see as deliberate deviance as a result of trauma that interferes with their emotional regulation, attachment and coping. Risk is further exacerbated by the effects of school exclusion, poverty and disparate services. However, it is important to recognise that institutional responses that focus on risk management rather than welfare can, in turn, contribute to the process of justice involvement.
There is potential for improved engagement and unnecessary criminalisation through preventative and trauma-informed strategies, such as those offered in the Child First framework, diversion programmes and Enhanced Case Management. But their effectiveness is limited by the bumpy road of implementation, lack of resources, and the remaining presence of risk-based culture in practice.
It is concluded in the dissertation that, effective prevention requires a multi-coordinated response that is focused on the welfare of the individual and the structural inequalities. To shift youth justice outcomes in favour of less harm and a more equitable outcome for vulnerable young people then youth justice policy needs to move significantly toward early intervention, relational practice and social inclusion.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21402424