The Analysis of Trauma-Informed Risk Assessments Within a Juvenile Justice System in a Midwest State
Date Approved
4-2020
Graduate Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Criminal Justice (M.S.)
Degree Program
School of Criminal Justice
First Advisor
Carrie L. Buist
Second Advisor
Jacquelynn Doyon-Martin
Third Advisor
Jaclyn Cwick
Academic Year
2019/2020
Abstract
With approximately 90% of justice-involved youth experiencing at least one traumatic event before entering the justice system, trauma-informed care has moved to the forefront of juvenile justice in recent years (Dierkhising et al., 2013). Trauma-informed care aims to capture and address the impact trauma has on youth. One area within the juvenile justice system that is critical to capturing these events in justice-involved youth are risk assessments. The current study aimed to address whether a Midwest state is using trauma-informed questions and incorporating aspects of intersectionality (gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and class) within practices directed at justice-involved youth. A content analysis of four risk assessments revealed that trauma-informed questioning was inconsistent among the risk assessments and there were no questions regarding concepts of intersectionality. Additionally, recommendations are provided on how to create more comprehensive risk assessments within the juvenile justice system.
ScholarWorks Citation
Bates, Kayla M., "The Analysis of Trauma-Informed Risk Assessments Within a Juvenile Justice System in a Midwest State" (2020). Masters Theses. 973.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/973
Included in
Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons
