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Trauma and It’s Implications �for the Justice System

Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW

Center for Gender & Justice

La Jolla, CA

CTIPP

February 4, 2022

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Definitions: Three Levels of Trauma Work

Trauma-informed services include things we all need to know.
Trauma-responsive services include what we need to do (policies, practices, environment = culture) when we work with trauma survivors.
Trauma-specific services are what we need to provide

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Trauma-impacted People

Schools, hospitals, mental health services, addiction treatment programs, etc.

What is unique to the justice system:

Highest rates of abuse and trauma
Childhood abuse is linked to adolescent and adult criminal behavior
The experience of the cj system itself (structure, policies, procedures) can traumatize/retraumatize people

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Why is Understanding Trauma Important?

Abuse and trauma impact:

Thinking (cognition)
Feeling (affect)
Behavior (including interactions with others)

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Process of Trauma

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Traumatic Event

Fight, Flight or Freeze

Altered state of consciousness, Body sensations, Numbing,

Hypervigilance, Hyper-arousal, Collapse

Overwhelms the physical and psychological coping skills

Response to Trauma

Sensitized Nervous System

Changes in the Brain

Brain–Body Connection

Psychological and Physical Distress

Current stressors, Reminders of trauma (triggers/activators)

Sensations, Images, Behavior, Emotions, Memory

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Trigger/Activator

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A trigger/activator is an external stimulus that sets off a physical or emotional reaction in a person.

The stimulus can be a sight, a sound, a smell, a person, a place, a behavior, or anything that is a reminder of the traumatic event.

Possible Triggers for People in the Criminal Justice System

Restraint
Handcuffs
Isolation
Searches (pat & cavity)
Loud noises
Yelling
Threats (staff and other residents)

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Trauma’s Impact on the Brain & Body

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Person experiences trauma

Brain and body become overwhelmed; nervous system is unable to return to equilibrium

Trauma goes untreated; person stays in “stress response” mode

Cues continue to trigger/activate trauma (e.g., loud voices, sirens, searches, cell extractions)

Person reacts to trauma cues from a state of fear

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Emotional and/or

Physical Responses

Retreat

Isolation

Dissociation

Depression

Anxiety

Harmful Behavior �to Self

Substance use disorders

Eating disorders

Deliberate self-harm

Suicidal actions

Harmful Behavior �to Others

Aggression

Violence

Rages

Threats

Physical Health�Issues

Lung disease

Heart disease

Autoimmune disorders

Obesity

Traumatic Event

Fight, Flight or Freeze

Altered state of consciousness, Body sensations, Numbing,

Hypervigilance, Hyper-arousal, Collapse

Overwhelms the physical and psychological coping skills

Response to Trauma

Sensitized Nervous System

Changes in the Brain

Brain–Body Connection

Psychological and Physical Distress

Current stressors, Reminders of trauma (triggers/activators)

Sensations, Images, Behavior, Emotions, Memory

Process of Trauma

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Women in Prison �Childhood Traumatic Events

A score of 4 or more “yes” answers on ACE survey indicated higher rates of physical and mental health problems.

A score of 7 or more “yes” answers indicated 980% more risk of mental health problems.

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(Messina & Grella, 2006)

4

or more

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or more

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Gender�and�Trauma Lens

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Gender and Abuse

Childhood

Girls and boys at equal risk from family members and people they know

Adolescence

Young men at risk from people who dislike or hate them. Boys at greater risk if they are gay, young men of color, gang members, or transitioning.
Young women at risk from lovers or partners – people to whom they are saying, “I love you.”

Adulthood

Men at risk from combat or being victims of crime
Women at risk from those they love
LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming people are at the highest risk

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Working with Youth

Boys—School to prison pipeline

Girls—Sexual assault to prison pipeline

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Gender issues have become complex for custodial settings

Transgender and nonbinary population

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Trauma: Key Elements

for Staff and Those We Serve

Understand the process of trauma, inc. gender differences
Learn about the common reactions
Develop coping skills

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Becoming Trauma Informed

The US editions include the following:

Becoming Trauma Informed: A Training Program for Correctional Professionals (adults, 2020)
Becoming Trauma Informed: Focus on Youth (2020)

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The BTI training material consist of a facilitator guide, participant booklet, and PowerPoint slides for a 7-hour training day.

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Definitions: Three Levels of Trauma Work

Trauma-informed services include things we all need to know.
Trauma-responsive services include what we need to do (policies, practices, environment = culture) when we work with trauma survivors.
Trauma-specific services are what we need to provide

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Trauma-Responsive Services

What We Do

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Take into account the impact of trauma on a person’s thinking, feelings, and behaviors.

Avoid triggering trauma reactions and/or re-traumatizing an individual.

Review and revise policies and practices.

The behavior of correctional officers, counselors, other staff, and the organization reflects the new policies and practices.

Allow survivors to manage their trauma symptoms successfully so that they are able to access, retain, and benefit from services.

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Moving from Trauma-Informed�to Trauma-Responsive

A structured and guided process is needed for organizational change

(with a primary focus is on culture/environment):

Involves multiple steps on multiple levels
Based on five core values
Requires commitment of leadership over time (3-5 years)

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Becoming Trauma Responsive

Moving from Trauma-Informed to Trauma-Responsive

Facilitator Guide with step-by-step instructions
Three hours of video
USB Drive with handout resources

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Trauma-Focused Interventions

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Integrated Programming

Helping Women Recover

20-session program

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Helping Men Recover

18-session program

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Helping Women Recover & Beyond Trauma� (Staff-led)

Helping Women Recover

(Covington, 1999; rev 2008; 2019)

20 sessions
Special addition for women in Criminal Justice System

Beyond Trauma

(Covington, 2003; rev 2016)

12 sessions

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Randomized Controlled Trial.

Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Post-release follow-up for 12 months.

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Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma: �Significant Positive Differences in Post-release Outcomes for the GRT Group Compared with the TC Group (treatment as usual)

Findings show:

The odds of the GRT participants being returned to prison were decreased by about two thirds (67%) compared with the TC participants.
A greater reduction in drug use for the GRT group across time compared to the standard TC group
A 360% increase in the odds of successfully completing residential aftercare treatment for the GRT group, compared with the standard TC group

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Messina et al., 2010

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Integrated Programming (cont.)

Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls

18-session program

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A Young Man’s Guide to Self-Discovery

14-session program

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Trauma Specific

Beyond Violence

20-session program

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Beyond Anger and Violence

21-session program

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Beyond Violence: Significant Positive Changes for Treatment Group�Compared with Control Group on 82% of Outcomes

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Decrease

Expressive Anger

Less Anger for BV Group

Depression

Anxiety

Improved Mental Health for BV Group over Control Group

PTSD

Physical Aggression

Hostility

Indirect Aggression

Aggression/Hostility

Less Aggression/Hostility for BV Group

Emotional Dysregulation

Messina & Calhoun, 2020

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Beyond Violence�One Year Post Release�(RCT)

Less recidivism
Less relapse

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	Arrest within the First Year	Positive Drug Screen
Beyond Violence Program	15%	25%
TAU (Assaultive Offender Program)	47%	47%

(Dr. Sheryl Kubiak, MDOC Research Results 2015)

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Trauma Specific (cont.)

Healing Trauma+

6-session program

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Exploring Trauma+

6-session program

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Messina and Zwart, 2020

Social Connectedness

Depression

Anxiety

Serious Mental Illness

PTSD

Emotion Regulation

Aggression

3,500 participants and 1,000+ in research

Results of Healing Trauma:

A Brief Intervention for Women

Significant Positive Post-Intervention Changes

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Results of Exploring Trauma: �A Brief Intervention for Men�Significant Positive Post-Intervention Changes

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Anxiety

Depression

PTSD and Trauma Symptoms

Mental Health Scores

Aggression

Anger

Instrumental & Expressive Representation

Interpersonal Empathy

Social Connectedness

Emotional Regulation – Impulse Control

5,000 participants and 1,000+ in research

(Messina and Zwart, 2021)

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California Institution for Women (CIW)�Healing Trauma Graduation, August 2018

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Summary of SHU Results

Even participants in the most restrictive, punitive, and trauma-inducing environments can benefit from trauma-informed interventions.
Residents in the highest levels of security risk and with the most complex needs can benefit from a brief 6-session trauma-based intervention.
Interventions and graduations can be safely held in the SHU facility (with invited guests, featured speakers, facility leadership, and media in attendance)

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Resources

Program materials

www.stephaniecovington.com

Books → Bookstore

Research studies

www.stephaniecovington.com

Research section

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Rationale

Results of becoming trauma informed and trauma responsive in cj settings:

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Organizations and facilities become safer

Staff and those receiving services feel safer

Staff jobs become easier

Programming becomes more effective

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Understanding the Centrality of Trauma & Gender: �Essential Components throughout the Justice System

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Trauma

&

Gender

Educational

Programs

Environment

of the Program

Mental Health Services

Visitation

Health Services

Family

Services

Self-Help Programs

Housing

Employment

Services

Assessment

Parole and Probation

Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Community Corrections

Courts

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Contact Information

Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW

Center for Gender & Justice

7946 Ivanhoe Ave., Suite 201B

La Jolla, CA 92037

(858) 454-8528 (858) 454-8598 FAX

www.stephaniecovington.com

www.centerforgenderandjustice.org

sc@stephaniecovington.com

@stephaniecovingtonofficial

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