The challenges of trauma-informed forensic interventions

The introductory chapter explores the particular challenges of delivering trauma-informed interventions in forensic settings using as a framework the six principles of trauma-informed care proposed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA, 2014 ). These are safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment; empowerment, voice and choice; and a focus of cultural, historical and gender issues. The demands, constraints and ingrained cultures of justice and forensic mental health systems pose significant challenges to the application of each of these principles. The chapter concludes by posing a number of questions that will be explored in the book, including “can trauma-informed interventions be delivered in forensic services?”; “are there differences between trauma-informed care in forensic settings and in other settings?”; and “what does an evidence-based, trauma-informed justice system look like?”.