Since 2018, justice organisations across Northern Ireland have worked in partnership with the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) to embed Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) across the justice system. Supported through a cross-departmental Early Intervention Transformation Programme, this work has included the delivery of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) training, the integration of trauma-informed principles into policies and commissioning processes, and the development of leadership and organisational capacity to support cultural change.
This workshop explores the progress made on this journey and the collaborative efforts of a justice-wide Trauma Informed Practice Group, bringing together key justice agencies, the judiciary, Victim Support NI, and the Department of Justice. Guided by a shared vision of a trauma-informed justice system, the group seeks to recognise the impact of trauma on victims, witnesses, offenders, and staff, while reducing the risk of re-traumatisation and promoting more effective and compassionate responses.
Drawing on examples from across the justice sector, the workshop will highlight initiatives undertaken to assess and strengthen trauma-informed approaches, including the use of evaluation tools and the sharing of best practice between organisations. Participants will gain insight into the enablers and barriers to embedding trauma-informed practice, the varying stages of organisational development, and practical strategies for leading change within their own settings. The session will demonstrate the value of partnership working in creating a more responsive, supportive, and trauma-informed justice system.
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Maria Watson
Director Reducing Offending, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Northern Ireland
Maria is currently the Director of Reducing Offending in the Department of Justice, leading on development and implementation of strategy and policy to reduce reoffending in Northern Ireland. This includes driving a Programme for Government commitment to deliver a new cross Executive Strategy. She also has responsibility for problem-solving approaches to diversion including early intervention through a Strategic Framework for Youth Justice, wider youth justice policy and legislation. Maria is responsible for implementation of the Department’s Adult Restorative Justice Strategy and expansion of these services. She leads on the justice wide approach to reduce prison population remand levels, including the establishment of a new bail support scheme and alternatives to remand. She also drives the cross departmental implementation of a strategy for women and girls at risk of, or in contact with, the criminal justice system.
Before this Maria was also the Director of Rehabilitation, leading the delivery of rehabilitation support services across Northern Ireland prisons. She was responsible for the strategic development, delivery and oversight of their rehabilitative and resettlement services. This involved designing and implementing programmes and interventions to encourage change and support a reduction in reoffending. Maria was also responsible for overseeing the planning, commissioning, delivery and performance of rehabilitative interventions (i.e. learning and skills, offender management) and develop outcomes measurement tools to demonstrate the impact of rehabilitation on prisoner outcomes. She also led the design of a Rehabilitation Improvement Programme, to embed an enhanced prisoner development framework, and delivery of probation and psychology services in prisons.a
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Mark Holmes
Governor in Charge, NIPS, Northern Ireland
Mark Holmes has been a member of the Northern Ireland Prison Service since joining as an Auxiliary Officer in 2000. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience across a range of operational, strategic, and leadership roles, serving at every rank within the Service. Most recently, Mark held the position of Governor within Prison Service Headquarters Security & Operations, where he contributed to the development and delivery of key organisational priorities. In July 2026, he took up the role of Governor in Charge of Rehabilitation.
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Michael McCracken
Principal Psychologist, PBNI, Northern Ireland
Michael McCracken is Probation Board NI Principal Psychologist.
Michael has responsibility for the Psychology Teams along with Regional and Intensive Supervision Unit Programme teams. He is also also responsible for Probation's Promoting Positive Relationships Programme (PPRP).
He is lead for Trauma Informed Practice within Probation and also has responsibility for overseeing Psychology Teams and Regional & Intensive Supervision Unit Programme Teams. He is also responsible for the leading the Promoting Positive Relationships Programme (PPRP) , and managing psychology‑based research projects .