Developing Trauma-Informed Approaches to Children in Courts

Understanding the impact of trauma on children of all ages and being trauma-informed is very important for judges, lawyers, court appointed special advocates, and all systems that interface with juvenile court. It is important to recognize how the approach to children and the work and decisions made by judges, lawyers and CASA volunteers will be different if they are trauma-informed. When individuals, be they children or adults, experience trauma it can be overwhelming and impact their capacity to cope. Children, especially young children, may feel helpless, fearful and hopeless because of trauma they have experienced, and have less ability to control and regulate their behaviors and emotions. Children and adolescent will have different reactions. Younger children may show their feelings by having frequent temper tantrums, hitting and throwing things. School-age children may have difficulty sitting still and concentrating in school; they may act out in negative ways or withdraw. Adolescents, especially with the influence of their peers, may show risky behaviors, substance use, delinquency and other negative behaviors that come to the attention of the juvenile justice system.

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