In 2015, after 10 years of working with victims of violence, people living in prison, and people reintegrating from prison, I wrote Trauma-Informed Youth Justice because I was discouraged by the harm of the justice system while alternatives existed but were often ignored. 1/6

My research confirmed what I was seeing. Victims are often retraumatized by interactions with police and courts. Their wishes and needs are sidelined. R vs [last name of offender] means that they are no longer even victims to their own crimes, but instead a witnesses. 2/6

What about offenders? For youth who are dealt with by the justice system are 7x more likely to come in conflict in the law later in life than if we did nothing at all. Justice system involvement has more to do with race, class, and struggle than with actual law-breaking. 3/6

What is more, 90% of criminalized youth have experienced trauma: usually some combination of systemic racism, colonialism, family violence, neglect, or sexual abuse. The justice system then inflicts pain or adds further trauma on top of trauma. No wonder it doesn’t work. 4/6

One of the tragedies is that alternatives exist. Restorative justice processes consistently satisfy the needs of victims and promote meaningful accountability for those who have caused harm. Community-based alternatives work, in the short- and long-term. 5/6

I write in light of ongoing, overinvestment in policing. Communities have been consistently asking for defunding. When will leaders stop investing in something that is racist, harmful, and ineffective? 6/6