Almost daily, we see advertisements for "trauma-informed" and "victim-centered" programs. Just this morning we received an email from an outfit called Creating Presence offering a "Systematic Organizational Trauma Certification" for groups that work with "individuals who are impacted by trauma."

But what does "impacted by trauma" really mean? These groups never define "trauma," which means anyone could be a "victim" of trauma.

Yes, there are persons who have experienced life-threatening trauma, and they certainly need our help.

But the idea of making your whole school, government agency, or other group "trauma-informed" is taking things too far. In the criminal justice context, the failure of these groups to highlight the importance of due process and presumption of innocence suggests an effort to recast the criminal justice system into an enterprise with a primary focus on the provision of mental health and social services. 

Which in practice means, "guilty, with no chance to prove your innocence."