Worcester District Attorney's Office Chosen As National Criminal Justice Trauma Training Site

Press release from the Office of the Worcester County District Attorney:

February 3, 2022

WORCESTER – The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office has been selected as one of 10 sites across the country to host a criminal justice trauma training program offered by SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. announced today.

This SAMHSA approved program will support the office in providing the training “How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” to 20 professionals from the Worcester and Plymouth District Attorney’s and Sheriff’s offices, the Massachusetts State Police, as well as other local law enforcement and social service agencies, to become trainers.

“We are seeing trauma at the forefront of many problems within our criminal justice system. Recognizing and addressing this trauma and its effects is a priority in our office,” Mr. Early said. “We are honored to be selected as one of only 10 sites to host this training, which will help our office and our partners become fully trained to avoid re-traumatizing individuals in the criminal justice system.”

The two-day training will teach attendees how to train their own staff to ensure trauma-informed responses are implemented across the state.

As SAMHSA GAINS Center notes, “This increases safety for everyone, decreases the chance of recidivism, and supports the recovery of justice-involved men and women with serious mental illness.”

This press release was produced by the Office of the Worcester County District Attorney. The views expressed are the author's own.