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Realizing Resilience in Trauma Exposed Juvenile Offenders: A Promising New Intervention for Juvenile Justice and Prevention Professionals

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Abstract

Considerable evidence suggests that untreated childhood trauma is a contributing factor to delinquency and juvenile justice system involvement. This paper describes a promising new intervention for at-risk youth and juvenile offenders with traumatic histories grounded in a model commonly referred to as the three principles. This intervention attempts to draw out the inner mental health and resilience in trauma exposed young offenders and provide them with a new perspective on their past traumas that can prevent them from infecting the present. First, the origin, nature, and logic of the three principles are described. Next, the three principles intervention is described and compared to cognitive and other trauma interventions. Then, several guideposts followed by effective three principles practitioners are described. Finally, empirical evidence is presented in support of the efficacy of this intervention with at-risk youth, juvenile offenders and adults with traumatic histories.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminal Justice, Wayne State University, 3255 Faculty Administration Building, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Thomas M. Kelley

  2. Center for Inside-Out Understanding, Moretown, VT, USA

    Jack Pransky

  3. Sedgeman Consulting, LLC, Bradenton, FL, USA

    Judith A. Sedgeman

Authors
  1. Thomas M. Kelley
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  2. Jack Pransky
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  3. Judith A. Sedgeman
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Correspondence to Thomas M. Kelley.

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Kelley, T.M., Pransky, J. & Sedgeman, J.A. Realizing Resilience in Trauma Exposed Juvenile Offenders: A Promising New Intervention for Juvenile Justice and Prevention Professionals. Journ Child Adol Trauma 7, 143–151 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-014-0018-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-014-0018-8

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