Journal of Trauma & Treatment

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A Guide for Probation Officers

Abstract

Jerrod Brown, Brooke Luckhardt, Diane Harr, Thomas Poser and Amanda Fenrich

Referred to as a “silent epidemic,” traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are disruptions in normal brain functions caused by an external force to the head (Center for Disease Control, 2017). Ranging from mild to severe in nature, TBI’s can result in physical, cognitive, emotional, social, personality, adaptive, and behavioral changes in an individual. These devastating symptoms render individuals with TBI’s disproportionately likely to become involved in the criminal justice system. Once arrested, the symptoms of TBI make it difficult to make important legal decisions, stand trial, and meet the conditions of probation, which results in an elevated risk for rearrests relative to those individuals without a TBI. Despite these difficulties, probation officers have the potential to help improve outcomes for clients with TBI. In particular, these professionals can help ensure that clients with TBI are referred to proper assessment and diagnosis, individualized supervision that accounts for their strengths and weaknesses, and receive appropriate treatment and medical assistance. As such, this article is intended to raise awareness of the challenges of TBI in a probation setting and offer tips, strategies, and solutions for probation officers working with this clientele.