Culturally responsive techniques for practitioners using evidenced-based practices with Black and Latinx youth in the legal system

Informed by the nigrescence theory of racial identity development, this article addresses the nuanced psychological experiences of youth involved in the legal system (YILS), with a particular focus on Black and Latinx youth. It emphasizes the need for culturally specific and trauma-informed interventions or adaptations of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Bridging theory and practice, it urges professionals – therapists, social workers, educators, probation officers, and security staff – to adapt Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) to incorporate racially and culturally responsive approaches while maintaining model fidelity.