This paper will take a look at the prevalence of trauma in youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system. We will also take a look at PTSD and Trauma-Informed Care in youth along with three case studies of effective and ineffective treatments and/or therapies of trauma in youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD, Functional Family Therapy-Trauma Focused model (FFT) and Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM). We will also discuss the three case studies and the validity of those studies along with areas for future therapy research.
             Research has shown that the greater part of justice-involved youth have experienced childhood trauma exposure, with some studies showing that as many as 90% of detained youth endorse at least one traumatic event (Abram et al., 2013). Additionally, many justice-involved youth report experiencing multiple types of trauma exposure (e.g., Abram et al., 2013). According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (Peterson, 2018), more than 80% of juvenile justice-involved youth report experiencing trauma, with many having experienced multiple, chronic, and extensive interpersonal traumas. When exposed to trauma, it places youth at risk for different types of emotional, behavioral, developmental, and even legal relationships; intellectual functioning; and mental health disorders which can include PTSD, substance abuse, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, self-injury, and conduct problems such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder. These disorders can lead to the likelihood of involvement in criminal behavior, crime, and the juvenile justice system. Because of the gravity of traumatic stress reactions among juvenile-involved youth; caregivers, families, professionals, and providers must address and respond to the prevention, identification, assessment to diminish further traumatic stress.
             According to CDC.gov and Children’s Mental Heal...