Therapeutic jurisprudence: a practical guide to developing therapeutic intervention skills for judicial officers in specialist courts

Summary

This publication aims to inform judicial officers about the principles and practice of therapeutic jurisprudence and trauma-informed judging. The resource also provides practical interventions and information to help protect judicial efficacy in the face of the constant risk of vicarious traumatisation. It is vital for judicial officers to have the necessary training and skills to recognise symptoms of vicarious trauma and also to have access to the effective interventions: these are provided in this resource at [1.1] and Appendix D.

The purpose of therapeutic jurisprudence and the existence of specialist courts are not aimed at turning judicial officers into therapists or encouraging them towards leniency. This would diminish the role and unique contributions that judicial officers bring to the experience of court for a offender. Therapeutic jurisprudence and solution-focused judging do not promote leniency; offenders being held to account and receiving a just outcome — including imprisonment when warranted — is therapeutic in itself because it tells offenders that actions have consequences.