Rethinking Violence: Justice‐Involved Young People, Psychological Trauma and New Pathways for Intervention

ABSTRACT

Research has highlighted the widespread occurrence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among justice-involved young people who commit violent offences. This article explores the complex relationship between ACEs and serious youth violence. It examines the prevalence of ACEs among a cohort of justice-involved young people who had perpetrated violent offences. This is followed by a discussion of the neurological and psychological impact of ACEs and how they can contribute to violence in adolescence. The article then critically evaluates the implementation of trauma-informed practice within the youth justice sector. Whilst awareness of the need to be trauma-informed has grown in recent years, there remains limited empirical research into the challenges of implementing trauma-informed approaches within a youth justice context. Finally, the value that a forensic psychotherapeutic approach might add to existing ways of working with young people who perpetrate violent offences is discussed.