Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Children Exposed to Violence: A Developmental Trauma Informed Response for the Criminal Justice System

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Much scholarly research exists examining the effect of violence on a child’s developing brain. Experts agree that a Trauma Informed System is one in which all parties involved recognize and respond appropriately to the varying impacts of trauma stress on children, caregivers, families and those who have contact within the system. Programs and organizations within the system must infuse this knowledge and awareness within their own organizational cultures. It is vital that the Criminal Justice System, specifically law enforcement and prosecutors, be not only Trauma Informed but also a catalyst for systemic change in this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • About Seeking Safety. (2014). Retrieved from seeking safety: http://www.treatment-innovations.org/ss-description.html.

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (1998). The role of the pediatrician in recognizing and intervening on behalf of abused women. Pediatrics, 1091–1092.

  • Bair-Merritt, M. (2010). Intimate partner violence. Pediatrics in Review—American Academy of Pediatrics, 145–150.

  • Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Basile, K. C., Chen, J., Merrick, M. T. (2014). Prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization—national intimate partner and sexual violence survey, United States, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, 63(SS08), 1–18.

  • Chadwich Center Advisory Committee. (2010). Chadwick center trauma informed systems project. Retrieved from Chadwick Center: http://www.chadwickcenter.org/CTISP/ctisp.

  • Chamberlain, L. (2014). Comprehensive review of interventions for children exposed to domestic violence. San Francisco: Futures without violence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domestic Violence Court. (n.d.). Retrieved from Center for Court Innovation: Courtinnovation.org.

  • Domestic Violence Roundtable. (2008). Domestic violence Roundtable.org. Retrieved from Domestic Violence Roundtable: http://www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org/effect-on-children.html.

  • Fantuzzo, J. R. (2007). Children’s direct exposure to types of domestic violence crime: a population-based investigation. Journal of Family Violence, 543–552.

  • Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Ormrod, R., Hamby, S., Kracke, K. (2009). Children’s exposure to violence: A comprehensive national survey. Washington D.C: United States Department of Justice.

  • Graham, A. P. (2013). What sleeping babies hear: an fMRI study of inerparental conflict and Infants’ emotion processing. Psychological Science, 782–789.

  • Groves, B. D. (2004). Identifying and responding to domestic violence: Concensus recommendations. Washington D.C: Family Violence Prevention Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hitchens, D. H. (2005). The court’s role in supporting and protecting children exposed to domestic violence. Journal of the Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 31–52.

  • Igelman, R. S. (2008). Best practices for serving traumatized children and families. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 35–47.

  • Klain, E. A. (2013). Implementing trauma-informed practices in child welfare. Retrieved from Child Welfare: http://childwelfaresparc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Implementing-Trauma-Informed-Practices.pdf.

  • Levendosky, A. B.-T. (2013). PTSD symptoms in young children exposed to intimate partner violence. Violence against women, 187–201.

  • Melton, G. (2013). The SAGE handbook of child research. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, N. N. (2012). Creating trauma-informed correctional care: a balance of goals and environment. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 3.

  • Moylan, C. T. (2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Family Violence, 53–63.

  • Mulkey, E. (2014). Confronting legal and technological incongruity: remote testimony for child witnesses. Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, 463–492.

  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2014). Children and domestic violence. Retrieved from NCTSN: http://www.nctsn.org/content/children-and-domestic-violence.

  • NCTSN Learning Center for Child And Adolescent Trauma. (2012). Retrieved from NCTSN: http://learn.nctsn.org/. Accessed 30 June 15.

  • Office of Justice Programs. (1999). Breaking the cycle of violence: Recommendations to improve the criminal justice response to child victims and witnesses. Washington D.C: Office for Victims of Crime.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohio v. Clark, 576 U.S. ______ (United States Supreme Court 2015).

  • Randall, M. H. (2013). Trauma-informed approaches to law: why restorative justice must understand trauma and psychological coping. The Dalhousie Law Journal, 501.

  • Stuart House. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Rape Foundation: http://therapefoundation.org/programs/stuart-house

  • Teske, S., Huff, B., Graves, C. (2010). The dichotomy of judicial leadership: usingcollaboration to improve outcomes for status offenders. Juvenile & Family Court Journal, 61(2), 54–60.

  • Thoennes, P. T. (2000). Executive summary, extent, nature, and consequences of intimate partner violence: Findings form the national violence against women survey. Washington D.C.: Report for grant 93-IJ-CX-0012, funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control.

  • Tjaden, P., Thoennes, N. (2000). Extent, nature, and consequences of intimate partner violence: findings form the National Violence Against Women Survey, p. iii. Report for grant 93-IJ-CX-0012, funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control.Washington, D.C.: NIJ.

  • United States Department of Justice. (2011). Defending childhood initiative. Retrieved from United States Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/about-initiative.

  • United States Department of Justice. (2011). United States Department of Justice. Retrieved from Defending Childhood: http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/legacy/2011/09/19/tips-early-childhood.pdf.

  • United States Department of Justice. (2012). Report of the attorney general’s national task force on children exposed to violence. Retrieved from United States Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf.

  • United States Department of Justice. (2015). OJJDP. Retrieved from Safe Start: http://www.ojjdp.gov/programs/safestart/TipSheetFor_ParentEducation.pdf.

  • Vickerman, K. M. (2007). Post-traumatic stress in children and adolescents exposed to family violence. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 620.

  • Wathen, C. H. (2013). Children’s exposure to intimate partner violence: impacts and interventions. Pediatrics and Child Health, 419–422.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Violence Unit, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, 200 North Main Street, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, USA

    Tracy Webb

Authors
  1. Tracy Webb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tracy Webb.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Webb, T. Children Exposed to Violence: A Developmental Trauma Informed Response for the Criminal Justice System. Journ Child Adol Trauma 9, 183–189 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-015-0069-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-015-0069-5

Keywords