A recent report by the Prison Advice and Care Trust has found that addressing trauma in incarcerated young people can help to tackle the root causes of their offending, improve rehabilitation rates and reduce the risk of reoffending on release.
How the report came about
The Prison Advice and Care Trust ran a project known as Dealt An ACE at HMP Brinsford Young Offenders Institute in Staffordshire from May 2022 to May 2025 in which incarcerated young men with a history of trauma were provided with individualised support to help them cope with their symptoms, improve their mental health and become more resilient.
Funded by The Eveson Trust, Sir Halley Stewart Trust, The Rayne Foundation, The Barrow Cadbury Trust, Grantham Yorke Trust, Michael Marsh Charitable Trust and the Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Charitable Trust, the project findings suggest that participants experienced an improvement in mental health.
Recommendations
It is recommended that all prison staff undergo trauma informed practice training such as that delivered by www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/trauma-informed-practice-training/.
Further, prisoners should readily access individualised therapies and support, while incarcerated and during their transition to release. By recognising the signs of adverse childhood experiences in prisoners and offering them tailored support to overcome their trauma, it is possible to create safer, healthier prisons that truly rehabilitate offenders.
In conclusion
By applying trauma informed principles across all aspects of prison life, offenders will have better access to education and healthcare, helping them to become more resilient to the challenges they face and less likely to reoffend upon release.
