People, not just books: an investigation into the knowledge and understanding of trauma informed practice in the justice system

Trauma Informed Practice (T.I.P) is a working model reliant on understanding and responding to the notion that traumatised people need to work within their 'window of tolerance' by enabling them to feel safe, supported, and empowered. It is currently accepted as good practice and used as a model by many organisations. It requires a level of awareness to understand that the effect of trauma is both a psychological and physiological response not under conscious control, often misunderstood and misinterpreted in the Justice System (JS). This is despite the system, by its very nature, dealing with very difficult, often traumatic, issues. The literature surrounding the use of T.I.P in the JS is scarce. Existing literature highlights an ineffective response to those in the system: firstly, the witnesses, respondents and defendants. Secondly, the Professionals who support them and work within the JS (e.g., Police, Probation Officers, Solicitors, Barristers, and Intermediaries). The literature base, alongside the researcher's direct experience of The System as an Intermediary, which formed part of this Ph.D. as a reflective account, led to the current Ph.D. It seeks to look at JS professionals’ experiences of working with those who come into the JS as JS users (e.g. victims, witnesses, defendants, respondents, appellants ). It also aims to explore the experiences of Justice Professionals within the JS, through a T.I.P lens. Overall, the PhD was guided by the following research question:

How do Professionals working in the Justice System perceive the current state of Trauma Informed Practice?

This predominantly qualitative phenomenological study, with some descriptive quantitative data, was conducted in two stages: first, a survey of 155 Police Officers, Solicitors/Barristers, and Intermediaries was designed to capture participants' perceptions of T.I.P in the JS. Findings from the survey then informed the second stage of semi-structured interviews, analysed narratively, to thoroughly capture the lived experiences of the professionals. Interviews with eighteen participants, representative of each participant group, were conducted. Additionally, data from five Retired Judges/Magistrates were included at this stage.

The results show that while elements of T.I.P are permeating through the system, most professionals find the system is not set up for T.I.P, causing a lack of appropriate treatment of those entering the system. The findings also indicate a high level of moral distress, moral injury and Vicarious Trauma for those professionals working within the system. Recommendations emerged which include the need for further research and suggestions for: a focus on training, systemic change, multiagency supervision, and the introduction of reflective practice.