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How is Trauma Exposure Measured in Populations Who Have Experienced Incarceration? A Systematic Scoping Review
Maria Morrison1, Christopher Weatherly2, Arial Trautmann1
1Saint Louis University, MO, USA.
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
|March 27, 2026
Summary
Research on trauma exposure in incarcerated populations is limited, especially for men. Consistent measurement tools are needed to understand the public health impact of mass incarceration and trauma.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Criminology
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Correctional Healthcare Research
Background:
- Mass incarceration in the U.S. presents significant public health challenges.
- Understanding medical and mental health outcomes requires addressing trauma exposure in justice-involved individuals.
- Defining and measuring trauma is critical for a public health approach to correctional populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of research on trauma exposures in U.S. incarcerated populations.
- To identify measurement instruments and study characteristics related to trauma exposure.
- To highlight gaps in research, particularly concerning male populations and temporal aspects of trauma.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search for studies on incarcerated populations and trauma exposure published since 2000.
- Inclusion of studies measuring trauma before, during, and after incarceration.
- Analysis of sample demographics, trauma measurement tools, and study focus.
Main Results:
- 107 studies were identified, but 54% focused exclusively on women, despite men comprising 90% of the incarcerated population.
- A wide array of 51 trauma measurement instruments were used, with most utilized in a single study.
- Only 10 studies assessed trauma relative to the period of incarceration.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for standardized and validated trauma measurement tools in research and practice concerning incarcerated populations.
- Research must address the experiences of men and the timing of trauma exposure in relation to incarceration.
- Improved measurement is essential for effective public health interventions and understanding the consequences of mass incarceration.
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