Book review: Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice in the United States
| Date | 01 January 2019 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0269758018779618 |
| Author | Patricia L. Sattler |
| Published date | 01 January 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
Book reviews
Judah Oudshoorn
Foreword by Howard Zehr
Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice in the United States
Toronto, Canada: CSPI, 2016; xx þ299p.; ISBN 978-1-55130-948-4 (paperback)
Reviewed by: Patricia L. Sattler, University of Kansas, USA
DOI: 10.1177/0269758018779618
Trauma-informed care, a relatively new practice framework guiding work with individuals, fam-
ilies, and communities, calls on professionals to better understand the physical, psychological and
emotional impacts of trauma, and how certain practices can contribute to re-traumatization or
healing. In Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice in the United States, Judah Oudshoorn makes the
point that trauma-informed juvenile justice is more than simply caring for victims, offenders and
communities impacted by crime; it is a paradigm shift focused on harm reduction through rela-
tionship, respect, accountability, collaboration and voice.
Oudshoorn lays the foundation (Chapter 1) for a trauma-informed juvenile justice framework
rooted in six core values aimed at ending violence. He emphasizes that even those who have caused
great harm are deserving of dignity and respect, and that the voice of all justice stakeholders is
imperative. Restorative justice has a different starting point than traditional retributi ve justice
models—one focuses on resolving harms perpetrated upon others through accountability, respect
and healing, while the other focuses on guilt and punishment of the offender. Oudshoorn argues
that to be truly trauma-informed, juvenile justice must shift its focus to restoration and transforma-
tion. This shift begins, he believes, from a place of connection—or relationships—and interde-
pendence. He concludes with an exploration of restorative justice as a lens with which justice
professionals can view harm, crime and justice.
While not all who experience trauma will themselves perpetrate violence, the lives of youthful
offendersare frequently markedby violence, neglect, racismand poverty. Oudshoornmakes this point
(Chapter 2) not to excuseyouthful offenders’ behaviorbut rather to contextualize why some commit
crime. He reminds usthat trauma is not only experienced individually, but also collectively (Chapter
4), and provides several examples to support this argument, such as the colonization of Indigenous
peoples in Canadaand the USA as well as patriarchy, slavery and discrimination. Oudshoorn argues
that male violenceand youthful offendingare deeply rooted in patriarchy and calls on allmen to ‘help
construct new,healthier versions of masculinity’ (p. 83). The chapter concludes witha discussion on
how trauma harmsrelationships, how it impactsone’s sense of identityand the myriad ways in which
people interact with and make sense ofthe world, which often persist across generations.
Oudshoorn further asserts that the justice system, established to protect and create safer com-
munities, has accomplished the opposite (Chapter 5). For instance, research demonstrates that
International Review of Victimology
2019, Vol. 25(1) 133–137
ªThe Author(s) 2018
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