Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Director of Thesis

Mike Ottone

Second Reader

Kristine Laca

Abstract

Incarcerated youth experience disproportionately high rates of trauma exposure, estimated at 70% to 90%, which significantly impacts emotional regulation and behavior, keeping them in a cycle of repeated offense and increased recidivism rates (Branson et al., 2017). Despite the prevalence of these psychological needs, juvenile justice systems often lack consistent, trauma-informed programming that addresses the underlying causes of delinquent behavior. This study examines the implementation and impact of a structured, eight-week trauma-informed journaling intervention conducted as a pilot program within the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. This program was implemented among a small cohort of participants at the Juvenile Detention Complex (JDC), and was assessed using session-based emotional ratings, biweekly Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) surveys, behavioral data from the facility’s Legacy Level System, and a post-intervention survey. Results indicated consistent short-term improvements in mood following individual sessions; however, these effects did not translate into sustained changes in emotional measures or behavioral outcomes. In contrast, participants reported high levels of perceived growth in self-identity and emotional awareness. These findings highlight a critical limitation of current systems, with isolated interventions proving to be insufficient without broader environmental reinforcement. This study supports the need for scalable, trauma-informed programming that emphasizes skill-based emotional regulation and system-wide integration to promote sustained behavioral change.

First Page

1

Last Page

57

Rights

© 2026, Sarah Hobson

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