header-logo header-logo

Trauma-informed courts (Pt 1)

03 February 2021 / Felicity Gerry KC
Issue: 7919 / Categories: Features , In Court , Training & education
printer mail-detail
38174
Felicity Gerry QC on why being trauma-informed is an issue for court integrity
  • Adopting a trauma-informed approach is an integral aspect of procedural fairness for the courts, and any failure to do so can impact on court integrity.

Experts agree, however, that essential components of trauma-informed care include awareness of the prevalence of trauma, understanding about the impact on service utilization and engagement, and commitment to incorporating those understandings in policy, procedure, and practice’ (Yatchmenoff D et al, ‘Implementing Trauma-Informed Care: Recommendations on the Process’, 2017 Advances in Social Work 18(1):167).

This is the first in a two-part series on trauma-informed courts. Part 1 suggests that courts taking a trauma-informed approach is an integral aspect of procedural fairness, and any failure to do so impacts on court integrity. Part 2 provides practical proposals for trauma-informed practices.

Introduction

The integrity of a criminal justice system is linked to trustworthiness and fairness. It exists in a cultural context and is associated with the moral authority of the individual and the organisation.

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

FOIL—Bridget Tatham

FOIL—Bridget Tatham

Forum of Insurance Lawyers elects president for 2026

Gibson Dunn—Robbie Sinclair

Gibson Dunn—Robbie Sinclair

Partner joinslabour and employment practice in London

Muckle LLP—Ella Johnson

Muckle LLP—Ella Johnson

Real estate dispute resolution team welcomes newly qualified solicitor

NEWS
Solicitors are installing panic buttons and thumb print scanners due to ‘systemic and rising’ intimidation including death and arson threats from clients
Ministers’ decision to scrap plans for their Labour manifesto pledge of day one protection from unfair dismissal was entirely predictable, employment lawyers have said
Cryptocurrency is reshaping financial remedy cases, warns Robert Webster of Maguire Family Law in NLJ this week. Digital assets—concealable, volatile and hard to trace—are fuelling suspicions of hidden wealth, yet Form E still lacks a section for crypto-disclosure
NLJ columnist Stephen Gold surveys a flurry of procedural reforms in his latest 'Civil way' column
Paper cyber-incident plans are useless once ransomware strikes, argues Jack Morris of Epiq in NLJ this week
back-to-top-scroll