Reducing Trauma

Studies show that many defendants, victims, and witnesses have histories of trauma; striving to reduce that trauma is central to our work.

Trauma-informed care—practices designed to identify and treat the symptoms of trauma—is critical to meeting the needs of those involved in the justice system. Recognizing this, the Center’s operating programs and national training and technical assistance are rooted in trauma-informed approaches. Specifically, we train staff working in courts on trauma and its impacts, design courtroom practices to create a sense of safety, and help communities to better understand the impacts of trauma and prevent future crime.

A number of our initiatives also focus on specific populations affected by trauma, including Make it Happen, which works with young men who have experienced violence; the Child Witness Support Program, which offers trauma-informed services to children and adolescents; and the Strong Starts Court Initiative, which supports Family-Court-involved infants and their families.

On 'New Thinking,' an audio portrait of our Make It Happen program.

Initiatives

  • Make It Happen

    Make It Happen helps young men between the ages of 16 and 24 who have experienced violence acquire the tools necessary to overcome traumatic experiences.

  • Strong Starts Court Initiative

    The Strong Starts Court Initiative enhances the capacity of Family Court to bring positive changes to court-involved babies and their families.

Publications & Digital Media

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News

  • Better Solutions for Those with Mental Illness

    December 22, 2022
    New York Daily News

    "For too long, we have relied upon law enforcement and jail to be our primary response to those in mental distress."

    In this opinion piece, Courtney Bryan and Times Square Alliance president Tom Harris share better solutions for supporting people with mental health needs. When the legal system, law enforcement, and social service providers work together, we can address health, psychiatric, and housing needs on an individualized basis, and ensure safety for all New Yorkers.

  • Community-Based Violence Interruption Programs can Reduce Gun Violence

    July 14, 2022
    American Progress

    Violence interruption is a community-based strategy to reduce gun violence and improve public safety in neighborhoods. Our anti-violence program Save Our Streets is profiled and named as a highly successful example of curbing gun violence in the South Bronx, reducing gun victimization by 63 percent in its initial years of implementation.

  • Philly Residents Affected by Gun Violence will be Researching the Root Causes of the Crisis

    June 6, 2022
    WHYY, PBS

    Philadelphia is one of five major cities receiving national funding to study the factors driving youth gun violence. The research model involves hiring people with lived experience to ask questions in their own neighborhoods. Our Elise White and Basaime Spate, who are leading the study, share how having credible people ask the questions will improve turnout and the quality of responses. "The folks who live the experience also end up controlling the data at the end, so they control the narrative. And that’s an extremely important thing when you look at the way that gun violence gets talked about,” says Dr. White, research director.

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