From Training to Transformation: Trauma-Informed Responses

Trauma is a near-universal experience for people with behavioral health conditions who come into contact with the criminal legal system. Yet, many criminal legal professionals are not trained to recognize or address trauma, which can lead to escalated interactions, decreased safety, and negative outcomes. Trauma-informed approaches offer a shift in perspective; rather than asking, “What’s wrong with you?” professionals are encouraged to ask, “What happened to you?” By integrating trauma-informed responses, agencies can foster greater trust, safety, and understanding, ultimately benefiting both staff and the individuals they serve.

Through the “How Being Trauma Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” training offered by the Systems Mapping and Training Center at Policy Research, criminal legal professionals are transforming the way they respond to those who have experienced trauma, making care more compassionate, coordinated, and effective.

Eastern North Carolina: In 2024, Granville and Vance counties coordinated a multi-county rollout of the “How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” training, following their train-the-trainer event. The Regional Training Team pilot brought together representatives from law enforcement, courts, jails, community corrections, probation, behavioral health treatment, and protective services to address long-standing barriers in service delivery and care transition. The group reevaluated probation practices, discussed methods to expand jail-based clinical care, and clarified the Department of Social Services’ referral criteria. Using the training curriculum as a framework, five regional teams developed system and practice changes that prioritized dignity and reduced traumatization.

Florida: In September 2022, 55 criminal legal and social services professionals in Palm Beach County completed the “How Being Trauma Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” train-the-trainer curriculum. Within a year, several trainers facilitated trainings within their own agencies, amplifying the training’s impact. Participants reported increased empathy in daily interactions and a greater understanding of how trauma impacts both the people they serve and their colleagues, laying the groundwork for trauma-responsive organizational cultures.

Why It Matters: The real-world impacts underscore a powerful shift: communities investing in sustainable, trauma-informed practices that foster understanding and build trust. As one Palm Beach participant put it,

“I’m not as quick to judge . . . because [someone’s] behavior might be how they cope.”