The Mental Health Outcomes of Trauma-Informed Intervention Programs in Prisons

A Systematic Review

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21424992
AutoresJoana Coelho (0009-0008-7456-2918, University of Maia), Sofia Barros (0009-0007-1155-7583, University of Maia), Daniela Dias (0009-0006-8642-6636), Gabriela Martinho (0000-0003-0225-5632, University of Maia), Anita Santos (0000-0003-2389-605X, University of Maia)
Año2025
Volumen52
Número11
Páginas1643-1662
Fecha de publicación2025-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCriminal Justice and Behavior (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0093-8548 • E-ISSN: 1552-3594
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00938548251350114
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas44

People who are incarcerated globally exhibit higher rates of mental health issues and adverse childhood experiences than the general population, yet prisons seldom address trauma’s role. This systematic review analyzed the mental health outcomes of implementing Trauma-Informed intervention programs with adults being incarcerated. Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches of electronic databases (e.g., PubMed) and a manual search identified relevant studies. Thirteen empirical studies were identified, featuring seven interventions, with Seeking Safety being the most common. All studies explored the effects of their respective intervention and/or treatment program on participants’ mental health, particularly traumatic symptoms and/or other mental health outcomes. Most samples included women who were incarcerated, with one study involving incarcerated men. Trauma-informed prison programs improved incarcerated individuals’ mental health and reduced recidivism. By highlighting gaps, such as limited studies on incarcerated males or research in European contexts, this study offers critical insights for improving and creating these programs