Trauma-informed practices : the need for cultural safety in criminal justice

Trauma-informed practices are recognized as best practice in a range of social and welfare fields. CJSs in Western nations are engaging more with this framework due to its recognition of people as products of their environments and the role of systems in perpetuating criminality. CJSs also see the importance of trauma-informed practice due to its focus on social support and mental health care towards improving prosocial behavior, reducing recidivism and promoting community integration. To assist the reader to better understand the role and impact of trauma-informed practice, this chapter begins with defining trauma and explaining its impact across the lifespan. We then define trauma-informed practice and outline key principles of this approach. The chapter will also describe how trauma-informed practice aligns with the principles of cultural safety. We explore the applicability and benefits of trauma-informed criminal justice and using evidence-based examples of trauma-informed practice in diverse criminal justice settings.