...informed
certificate provides training that many criminal justice professionals
did not receive in the past and enables them to pinpoint the trauma
that played a role in the offender’s life.
“Trauma is integrated with substance abuse,” she says. “It’s usually at the core. The offenders dealt with some form of trauma.”
Trauma
can mean such issues as a child losing a parent, dealing with an
incarcerated parent or becoming affiliated with individuals who
encourage criminal behavior, she says.
“The root is helping them
deal with trauma or a traumatic experience,” she explains. “They can
work through it and live a healthy life and be successful and not go
back to the criminal justice system.”
The post-baccalaureate
certificate program, which offered its first courses in 2016, includes
four courses for a total of 12 credits: foundations and impact of
trauma; responding to trauma; trauma informed organizations; and trauma
interventions and best practices. The courses prove beneficial to
professionals in all facets of the criminal justice system – police,
courts, corrections, parole and probation, juvenile services and victim
services. Workers in victim provider agencies, for instance, benefit
from trauma sensitivity training which helps them assist clients who
were victims of rape, domestic violence, stalking or abuse, through
their legal cases, Stanley explains.
“The other half is the
victim who is highly neglected,” Stanley continues. “The trauma
certificate helps victim service providers understand the trauma
experience that could put victims into a more vulnerable situation and
not think clearly, not testify and not give a good statement.”
The
trauma-informed certificate trains professionals to help individuals
work through trauma to build confidence to become a worthwhile witness.
“Otherwise, there’s no real case,” she explains. “The case crumbles if
you don’t have evidence and witnesses available. The victim has to step
forward.”
Classes in the certificate program, including
victimology electives, are open to students in other programs. Students
enroll in two classes per semester. Courses are offered during evening
hours to accommodate working professionals. •
