Healing in the Halls of Justice

Creating Courthouses that Safeguard Emotional Health for Families and Staff

By: Dak Kopec

Mothers, fathers, children, judges, court reporters, and many others are affected by primary and secondary trauma in courthouses. Trauma-informed design should therefore be considered during the initial design phases.

When most people think of trauma, their minds often turn to domestic violence, child abuse, or catastrophic events. Likewise, when they imagine places where trauma survivors might be found, they tend to picture women’s shelters, child advocacy centers, or hospital-based trauma units. Although this assumption contains a thread of truth, it ultimately represents a narrow slice of the environments where trauma is experienced and re-experienced.

In my first two fiction books, Broken Boys Beyond Friendships and Logan’s Legacy Beyond Blood, I explored two very different traumatic experiences, and in doing so, found myself deeply immersed in courtroom procedures. That research quickly made it clear that the legal system is not a distant backdrop to trauma, but one of the many everyday environments where it is revisited, negotiated, and often intensified — an insight that expanded my own understanding of where trauma actually lives.

Trauma survivors occupy a far broader landscape than most people consider. Modern trauma science has shown that trauma is not limited to single events but is shaped by ongoing relational, social, and environmental contexts (van der Kolk, 2014). As a result, trauma-informed design must extend beyond shelters and clinical programs to include public institutions that routinely host individuals who are navigating traumatic stress.

Family Courts

Family courts can be a traumatic environment, not only because of the cases they adjudicate but because of their inherent emotional and relational intensity. These courts operate at the intersection of conflict, vulnerability, and high-stakes decision-making for both adults and children. The issues of custody, visitation, domestic violence, financial dependence, and the dissolution of intimate relationships are deeply personal and often rooted in histories of fear, coercion, betrayal, or instability. The psychological pressure that arises in these settings is considerable, and for many individuals, the process itself can be retraumatizing.

For survivors of domestic abuse, the structure of court proceedings can require recounting painful events in a public forum, confronting an abuser in close proximity, or fielding challenges to their credibility. Any of these experiences can trigger physiological and emotional symptoms that they may be struggling to manage in their daily lives. Even for individuals without a history of abuse, the loss of control, unpredictability, and emotional exposure inherent in the judicial system can be overwhelming.

Children in Court

Children often experience family courts as sites of acute distress. They may be asked to articulate feelings about their parents, provide sensitive information about their home life, or adjust abruptly to new routines and caregiving arrangements. Because children often lack the developmental capacity to articulate their fears or confusion, the stress they endure may surface through behavioral disruptions, withdrawal, or physical symptoms. These challenges are compounded by the courtroom environment, which is formal, intimidating, and often overstimulating. Within these spaces, adult conflicts become more visible and more audible, and the child’s emotional needs may seem secondary to procedural demands.

Research consistently shows that being in forced proximity to an abusive parent or partner, even within a formal or supervised setting, can provoke hyperarousal, dissociation, and acute distress (Campbell et al., 2009; Logan and Walker, 2018). For children, the emotional burden is even more substantial.

Children involved in custody disputes are frequently caught between conflicting loyalties, unresolved grief, and internalized narratives about parents who may be both loved and feared. The court process can require them to confront these contradictions long before they have the cognitive or emotional tools to make sense of them. This can heighten anxiety, impair emotional regulation, and increase behavioral difficulties during critical developmental periods (Osofsky, 2018).

Trauma-Informed Approaches

Courthouses and family courts in particular should be designed with care and intention. A trauma-informed approach recognizes that the built environment is not neutral. The environment can either amplify perceived threats or support emotional regulation. Since family courts regularly serve individuals already in heightened states of stress, uncertainty, or fear, they are uniquely sensitive to sensory overload. This is why confusing circulation patterns, interpersonal tension, and open plans can leave one feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Trauma-informed design emphasizes sensory modulation, clear wayfinding, privacy, and the creation of spaces that support both physical and psychological safety (Purtle, 2020). When these elements are addressed deliberately, the courthouse becomes a stabilizing influence rather than an additional source of distress, helping occupants maintain a sense of orientation, dignity, and control at a time when power imbalances and emotional vulnerability are already pronounced.

In a family court setting, this may involve providing separate waiting rooms for opposing parties, visual barriers to reduce unwanted eye contact, quiet rooms for emotional decompression, and sound-absorbing materials to limit overstimulation. These features can be paired with child-friendly elements that foster play, exploration, and comfort rather than dread. Some courts have introduced interactive kinetic art installations or sensory play features that help regulate a child’s nervous system while they wait.

Additional design strategies can strengthen trauma-informed intent. Biophilic design is especially effective in reducing physiological stress responses. This can be achieved by using natural materials sourced from the region, incorporating natural views, or adding plants and organic textures to waiting areas. In one courthouse room without windows, designers incorporated a large LED screen displaying drifting jellyfish. The rhythmic movements mimicked patterns observed in nature, creating a calming focal point that helped offset the lack of daylight.

Soft, indirect lighting is also important for reducing glare and supporting individuals who enter the building already in an elevated state of arousal. Seating options should not rely on rigid rows that mirror punitive or interrogation-like layouts. Instead, they should be flexible, allowing for personal space buffers and varied orientations. These types of seating arrangements acknowledge the need for autonomy and control in environments that can otherwise feel overwhelming.

Color palettes should lean toward soft neutrals and muted pastels, which create a soothing visual foundation without feeling sterile or clinical. Designers should also prioritize the visibility and accessibility of hydration stations, restrooms, and staff assistance points. Clear signage is essential so visitors know where to ask questions, where to access basic amenities, and where to consume food. Reducing uncertainty in the physical environment helps reduce stress and confusion.

Acoustic zoning is another critical component of trauma-informed design. Soft partitions, felted panels, and white-noise systems can help mitigate the emotional intensity of overhearing other families’ conflicts or legal proceedings. These features benefit both visitors and staff. Likewise, small sensory-regulation amenities such as fidget devices in children’s areas or warm-toned reading lamps in quiet corners empower visitors to self-soothe while they wait. These details communicate respect, empathy, and an understanding of human responses to stress.

Staff Well-being

The well-being of staff is equally important. Judges, prosecutors, clerks, court transcribers, and other personnel also carry the emotional burden of exposure to traumatic narratives. Secondary traumatic stress occurs when individuals absorb the emotional residue of others’ trauma. It contributes to burnout, which is well documented among professionals who work with victims of violence or abuse (Bride, 2007; Figley, 1995). A trauma-informed courthouse must intentionally support the well-being of its staff, who often encounter emotionally intense stories throughout the workday.

Judges, whose chambers function as both a workspace and a refuge between hearings, benefit from design features that promote emotional regulation and recovery. Chambers should include a small adjoining alcove or restorative micro-space where a judge can pause after a distressing case. Soft seating, adjustable low-intensity lighting, and acoustic treatments help separate the mind from the courtroom's intensity. Biophilic elements such as natural wood textures, indoor plants, or windows with views of trees or the sky can further support psychological restoration by grounding the nervous system.

Noise insulation is equally important. Strong sound barriers between the chambers, adjacent hallways, and courtrooms help create a calmer environment. Tunable lighting systems that follow natural daylight cycles reduce visual fatigue and help maintain circadian rhythm, which is particularly important for professionals who must concentrate for long periods.

Staff members who review evidence, transcribe testimony, or facilitate the movement of families through the court system are regularly exposed to distressing material. Their work environments benefit from dedicated staff lounges or quiet rooms designed specifically for decompression. These spaces should include warm lighting, soft seating, sound-masking technologies, and visual elements that promote calm.

Other measures include flexible workstations with adjustable privacy panels or small adjacent focus rooms that help staff manage graphic evidence or emotionally demanding tasks without being on display to colleagues or the public. Acoustic comfort, achieved through absorptive wall materials, carpeting, and treated ceilings, further reduces persistent background noise and the emotional fatigue it causes.

One area often overlooked is the break room, which can be transformed into a restorative space by adding access to natural light, comfortable furnishings, and uplifting artwork. With these measures, we can turn these spaces into meaningful places for respite rather than purely functional areas. Hallway niches with discreet seating further allow for brief moments of grounding between hearings or administrative tasks. However, the seating arrangements need to allow the person to survey people walking by.

Special Places

Whenever possible, outdoor terraces, enclosed courtyards, or rooftop gardens provide staff with brief but powerful opportunities for fresh air and natural light. Evidence consistently shows that exposure to nature lowers stress hormones and supports cognitive recovery. Additional wellness rooms, whether intended for lactation, meditation, or private telehealth appointments, acknowledge that staff wellbeing extends beyond the immediate demands of the workday.

Conclusion

Ultimately, trauma-informed design applied to family courts recognizes that the built environment shapes human experience. It acknowledges that trauma is not only a clinical concern but an environmental one, and that thoughtful evidence-based design can meaningfully reduce harm. By reimagining courthouses as spaces that support emotional regulation, reinforce safety, and reduce the likelihood of retraumatization, we can create a justice system that better serves survivors, families, and the professionals who support them.

Collectively, these design strategies promote the emotional and psychological resilience of all end users. While they cannot replace supportive organizational practices or access to mental health care, they contribute significantly to a healthier workplace culture. They also reflect the fundamental idea that the individuals who sustain the justice system deserve protection from the cumulative emotional toll of their work. In doing so, trauma-informed design strengthens the integrity, humanity, and long-term sustainability of the systems meant to uphold justice and safety.

Further Reading

Bride, B. E. (2007). Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social workers. Social Work, 52(1), 63–70.

Campbell, J. C., Webster, D., & Glass, N. (2009). The danger assessment: Validation of a lethality risk assessment instrument for intimate partner femicide. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(4), 653–674.

Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized. Brunner/Mazel.

Logan, T. K., & Walker, R. (2018). Looking into the day-to-day process of domestic violence courts. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(19), 3047–3072.

Osofsky, J. D. (2018). Children exposed to violence and trauma: Intervention and prevention. Development and Psychopathology, 30(2), 1–12.

Purtle, J. (2020). Systematic review of evaluations of trauma-informed organizational interventions that include staff trainings. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(4), 725–740.

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.