This talk will share use the “Think Trauma” resource from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) as a nucleus to have a discussion about the intersection of child trauma and the legal sphere. There will be a strong focus on teenagers and transition-age youth involved in the legal system and charged as perpetrators of crimes.
A specific “algorithm” will be presented using the “Think Trauma” resource, which was specifically created for youth involved in the legal system with trauma histories. Relevant tools and concepts (e.g., complex trauma vs. PTSD and why this is a critical distinction when working with kid) will be highlighted and case examples will be used to illustrate. A live fire application of what this looks like will be given using the presenter’s experience working for multiple years in a lockdown, juvenile detention center for violent adolescent male sex offenders.