Trauma-Informed Criminal Justice: Towards a More Compassionate Criminal Justice System

This book is the first to examine trauma-informed criminal justice responses to the commission of crime and its impact through empathy and humanity. Trauma-informed criminal justice uses compassion to achieve a safer community for everyone.

There are three parts: the first examines how adversity, trauma and crime are related. The second focuses on trauma-informed criminal justice responses to people who have offended, victims of crime, and professionals at risk of vicarious trauma. The third focuses on trauma-informed sentencing and compassionate justice through therapeutic jurisprudence and judicial empathy. Each chapter is designed to be a stand-alone resource.

Dr Katherine J. McLachlan has extensive experience working in the criminal justice system in roles related to policing, child protection and youth justice, and victims of crime. She is currently Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Flinders University, Australia and has been a member of the Parole Board of South Australia since 2015.