Hurt people hurt people: using a trauma sensitive and compassion focused approach to support people to understand and manage their criminogenic needs

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to argue that to address those factors that contribute to the probability of offending, the origins of such factors should be understood, and interventions that recognise the functional aspects of criminogenic capacities should be developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a theoretical basis for trauma sensitive practice by providing an evolutionary understanding of human harmfulness alongside a summary of the impact of adversity and abuse on the developing child.

Findings

The paper proposes an overarching framework that uses compassion-focused therapy for risk reducing interventions with men who cause harm to others.

Practical implications

This paper encourages forensic practitioners to develop a trauma aware approach to intervention design and delivery. The paper provides an overview of a compassion-focused therapy as approach to intervention that conceptualises criminogenic capacities within a more holistic and functional framework.

Originality/value

Forensic interventions have been slow to assimilate evidence from adverse childhood experience research and have therefore been limited in their ability to address the functional origins of criminogenic need. This paper offers a framework that allows practitioners to address risk while also allowing individuals to process their own trauma and adversity.

Citation

Taylor, J. and Hocken, K. (2021), "Hurt people hurt people: using a trauma sensitive and compassion focused approach to support people to understand and manage their criminogenic needs", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 301-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-08-2021-0044