Date of Conferral

10-6-2026

Date of Award

October 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Julie Lindahl

Abstract

Exposure to abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness during developmental stages of childhood impacts the cognitive and emotional regulation of adolescents in juvenile detention centers. The research question was: What are probation officers’ perspectives of their lived experiences with juvenile offenders with mental health disorders who were detained in juvenile detention centers? A trauma-informed perspective provides knowledge of the phenomenon between trauma and the response of explosive behavior, anxiety, and oppositional defiant behaviors leading to delinquent acts and detainment. Youths involved in the juvenile justice system often have a history of trauma, abuse, and neglect, which may contribute to the development or presence of mental health issues. Juvenile justice professionals often ignore these histories and cultural stereotypes are relied on to explain delinquent behaviors. Qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach was used in this study. Data were collected through an interview process with 12 probation officers regarding their perspectives on the lived experiences of juvenile offenders with mental health disorders detained in juvenile detention centers. The results indicate that participants experienced juvenile offenders with mental health disorders prevalent to delinquency and a history of childhood trauma. The findings of this study may promote positive social change by providing all juvenile probation officers with training in ACEs so they can understand the risk factors that surround delinquent behavior. The goal is to develop treatment modules and provide mental health services to help re-establish juvenile offenders and implement specific outcomes for mental disorders rather than detaining juveniles when behaviors prevalent to delinquency manifest.

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