The Trauma and Coping in Homicide and Sexual Offences and Juvenile Crime Criminal Investigators

Tinkara Pavšič Mrevlje

Purpose:

The study aims to contribute to research on trauma among police officers. The paper presents selected results of a larger study about trauma and coping among two specific police groups: criminal investigators from the Homicide and Sexual Offences (HSO) section as well as the Juvenile Crime (JC) section. Findings for each group are presented and differences analysed.

Design/Methods/Approach:

All 56 criminal investigators from HSO and JC sections within the Republic of Slovenia were asked to participate. The response rate was high: 92.59% (n = 25) for the HSO and 82.14% (n = 23) for the JC groups. The participants signed an informed consent and completed the questionnaires in a group setting in work hours. They were later given information about the individual results if they wished.

Findings:

The results for both groups show a low level of posttraumatic symptomatology that is linked to specific, mostly avoidance coping mechanisms. Specific work situations related to higher posttraumatic symptoms were identified for each participant group.

Research Limitations / Implications:

While the response rate was high, the small size of the two groups limits possibilities of statistical analysis, especially since the data are mainly not normally distributed.

Practical Implications:

A cross-sectional assessment of potential posttraumatic symptomatology can suggest preventive and possibly curative programmes for criminal investigators able to improve and contribute to more effective police work.

Originality/Value:

This is the first study in Slovenia to address the narrow field of trauma and coping among specific police groups.

UDC: 159.9:351.74/.76

Keywords: police work, psychology, trauma, coping, criminal investigators

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