Trauma-Informed Practice and Desistance Theories: Competing or Complementary Approaches to Working with Children in Conflict with the Law?

Abstract

This article considers two practice developments in Welsh (UK) youth justice: desistance-informed practice and the trauma recovery model (as applied in an intervention known as enhanced case management). The potential complementarity of these two approaches to working with trauma-experienced young people in the criminal justice system is explored with reference to the theoretical literature and an evaluation of enhanced case management.

Keywords

• desistance
• trauma
• youth justice
• practice