Survivors of sexual violence often face an incredibly difficult journey through the criminal justice system. Beyond the trauma of the sexual violence itself, the court experience can sometimes feel overwhelming, confusing, and re-traumatising. Recognising this urgent challenge, a groundbreaking project launched in October 2023 across three major Crown Courts aimed to support survivors by embedding trauma-informed practices into daily court operations. ICENA’s role? Delivering a bespoke trauma-informed training programme designed to help create safer, more respectful, and empowering court experiences for survivors of sexual violence.
What is Trauma-Informed Training — and Why Does It Matter?
Trauma-informed practice means understanding how trauma affects individuals’ behaviour, emotions, and needs, and adjusting how professionals interact accordingly. While some staff within the criminal justice system had already received trauma training, provision for court personnel, such as clerks, ushers, and administrative teams, had often been inconsistent. Yet these staff members regularly engage with survivors and witnesses, shaping much of their court experience.
To help bridge this gap, the Ministry of Justice commissioned ICENA to develop a bespoke trauma-informed training programme tailored specifically for multi-agency court staff. The goal was clear: to foster safer, more respectful environments that reduce the risk of re-traumatisation and support survivors’ choice, control, and empowerment.
The Training Programme: Building Knowledge, Confidence, and Compassion
Delivered in person across the three participating courts, the training combined expert insights with survivor testimony, practical exercises, and reflective discussions.
Staff participated in a full-day session. In total, ICENA delivered 49 sessions to 468 participants, including HMCTs staff, police, Witness Service and the Crown Prosecution Service.
This was followed by a refresher six months later – which transitioned to an accessible eLearning format to fit busy court schedules.
The total training package focused on:
- Understanding trauma and its impacts.
- Promoting trauma-informed communication and behaviours.
- Building trust and supporting survivor choice and empowerment.
- Providing practical tools to embed trauma-informed approaches in everyday work.
- Recognising vicarious trauma and prioritising staff wellbeing.
An awareness session was also made available to judges. This voluntary session focused on sharing what court staff had received through the training and the outcomes achieved, supporting alignment of trauma-informed principles across different roles in the court system.
Real Change: The Impact of Trauma-Informed Training
Feedback and observations showed the training made a real difference – changing mindsets, behaviours, and culture to better support survivors at every step.
Key impacts included:
- Deeper Trauma Awareness: Staff gained a more compassionate understanding of trauma, recognising that survivors’ reactions are shaped by their experiences.
- Safer, More Respectful Environments: Adjustments like offering survivors a choice of staff gender, creating private waiting areas, and clearer communication helped survivors feel more comfortable and secure.
- Empathetic Communication: Staff learned to use clearer, kinder language, validating survivors’ feelings and empowering them throughout the process.
- Empowerment Through Choice: Survivors were given more control over their interactions, reinforcing their dignity and agency.
- Extending Trauma-Informed Practices: Staff applied these principles beyond direct survivor contact, considering jurors, court visitors, and colleagues.
- Supporting Staff Wellbeing: Recognising the emotional toll of this work, teams developed informal peer support systems to manage secondary trauma.
Sustained Impacts: Best Practice Identified
While the training achieved significant improvements, ongoing efforts are essential to ensure these changes last and reach every corner of the court system. Some examples of best practice ICENA identified include:
- Consistently Honouring Gender Choice: Where possible, ensuring survivors can choose the gender of staff they interact with, including during security screenings.
- Formalising Survivor Communication Plans: Building on existing approaches for clear, survivor-led communication strategies detailing who provides updates, how often, and by which method.
- Enhancing Courtroom Accommodations: Pre-trial visits that closely mirror trial day experiences, standardised layouts for special measures, and investments in technology to reduce stress and delays.
- Strengthening Cross-Role Collaboration: Staff from different roles shadowing each other and participating in walk-throughs to build mutual understanding and teamwork.
- Introducing Clinical Supervision: Exploring options, such as clinical supervision, to complement existing informal peer support and help staff manage the emotional impact of their work.
Towards a More Survivor-Centred Justice System
This trauma-informed training project marks a vital contribution to ongoing efforts in the criminal justice system to better meet the needs of survivors. By further equipping court personnel with the knowledge, skills, and empathy needed to provide sensitive, empowering support, it helps strengthen a culture that prioritises safety, respect, and dignity.
The journey continues – with ongoing commitment to learning, collaboration, and investment essential to creating courts where survivors can access justice without fear or re-traumatisation.
