Rethinking Violence: Justice‐Involved Young People, Psychological Trauma and New Pathways for Intervention

ABSTRACT Research has highlighted the widespread occurrence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among justice‐involved young people who commit violent offences. This article explores the complex relationship between ACEs and serious youth violence. It examines the prevalence of ACEs among a cohort of justice‐involved young people who had perpetrated violent offences. This is followed by a discussion of the neurological and psychological impact of ACEs and how they can contribute to violence in adolescence. The article then critically evaluates the implementation of trauma‐informed practice within the youth justice sector. Whilst awareness of the need to be trauma‐informed has grown in recent years, there remains limited empirical research into the challenges of implementing trauma‐informed approaches within a youth justice context. Finally, the value that a forensic psychotherapeutic approach might add to existing ways of working with young people who perpetrate violent offences is discussed.