Corrections_Today_May_June_2020_Vol.82_No.3

there is a lot to learn about trauma informed practice, but being aware of daily interactions with individuals with justice involvement can be the start of healing and rehabilitation. In practice, individuals with justice involvement who feel that they are being responded to fairly, respectfully, and with understanding, will usually give their best ef- fort and are more likely to follow safety procedures and engage in programs. It is so important in trauma informed care that the client feels safe and that staff show they care about the clients’ concerns. Key principles to a trauma informed approach There are six key principles that are outlined by SAMHSA, 2014 related to staff following a trauma informed approach: 1. Safety 2. Trustworthiness and transparency 3. Peer support 4. Collaboration and mutuality 5. Empowerment, voice, and choice 6. Cultural, historical, and gender issues In talking about safety, this includes individuals with justice involvement feeling physically and psychologi- cally safe. A correctional organization that is accredited is much more likely to be creating a facility that supports feelings of safety. Also, positive interactions between staff and inmates promote a sense of safety and understanding where even if the individuals who are in the correctional environment do not like their situation, they are not threatened by the environment or the staff. In discussing trustworthiness and transparency, this is where operations in facilities are performed with trans- parency and the goal of building and maintaining trust between the clients and the staff and others involved with the facility. Trustworthiness and transparency means being consistent in following policies and procedures and includ- ing clients in discussions related to their program and their ultimate goal of leaving successfully. It is not being secre- tive or having mixed agendas but being upfront about what the individuals need to do to be successful. Peer support is key for safety and hope in building trust and promoting recovery and healing. This peer

support can be found in treatment groups that are work- ing either directly on trauma issues or indirectly through substance use disorder treatment or mental health disor- der treatment where discussions revolve around the need for safe supports in their life, learning to be a survivor, and learning to be good to self. Often, similar peers who have experienced trauma can have insights and wisdom that can be shared with other individuals with justice involvement who are suffering from the same types of problems. Collaboration and mutuality are all about trying to minimize the level of power differences between staff and inmates and between staff in an organization. Collaboration and mutuality are all about trying to minimize the level of power differences between staff and inmates and between staff in an organization. This allows healing to happen through relationships that are focused on meaningful sharing of power and decision making. This allows the program or facility to see all staff as playing a role in trauma informed care and as one expert stated, “One does not have to be a therapist to be therapeutic.” Staff at all levels can have meaningful interactions and healthy relationships with individuals with justice involvement. These relationships are based on professionalism, not friendship. Empowerment, voice, and choice looks at the strengths and experiences of individuals with justice in- volvement and builds on them. The facility and program fosters beliefs, tries to build resiliency in the people they serve and tries to create communities that promote healing and recovery. Along these lines, the goals of these facilities include developing services and work- force development which foster empowerment for both staff and clients alike. This means giving individuals with justice involvement (within reason) a voice to make

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