The effectiveness of trauma-focused interventions with individuals who perpetrated crimes: a systematic review

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is disproportionately prevalent among individuals who have committed crimes compared to the general population. Simultaneously, PTSD is associated with several adverse outcomes, including increased risk of suicidality in prison, poorer treatment outcomes, and higher rates of recidivism. This review seeks to systematize trauma-focused therapies for adult justice-involved populations. It examines their effectiveness across diverse approaches, forensic settings (e.g., prisons, forensic hospitals, probation), and demographic groups (e.g., men, women), expanding on prior reviews. Six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, B-On, PsycInfo, and Scielo) were searched, resulting in 20 studies included. Results showed that most studies were conducted in the United States, primarily involving female participants in prisons. The findings suggested that both EMDR therapy and the Seeking Safety program are promising approaches for improving mental health outcomes—including PTSD, anxiety, and depression—among men and women in both prison and non-prison settings. However, evidence regarding behavioral change remains inconsistent. These approaches and programs show potential as effective treatments for individuals who have committed crimes. However, methodological limitations within the studies prevent definitive conclusions about their effectiveness.
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), under HEI-Lab R&D Unit (UIDB/05380/2020, https://doi. org/10.54499/UIDB/05380/2020). This study was also conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (UIDB/01662/2020).