Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Eastern
Duration: 1.5 hours
Overview
Presenters will discuss foundational research findings which have enhanced our understanding of vicarious trauma and burnout among forensic professionals across various forensic disciplines. The discussion will also highlight recent mental health and wellbeing findings specific to forensic examiners who are exposed to child sexual abuse material during sex crimes investigations.
Attendees will gain valuable insights into emerging topics in this field, as well as resources designed to help support and promote resiliency among forensic professionals.
Detailed Learning Objectives
- Attendees will gain an understanding of the general terminology surrounding stress and trauma, as well as hear results from a study that examined the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout on forensic scientists.
- Attendees will learn how agencies that investigate sex crimes against children can better support their personnel.
- Attendees will understand the relationship between vicarious trauma, burnout, job satisfaction, and perceptions of resiliency efforts.
Presenters
- Donia Slack, Ph.D. | Senior Director, Department of Justice Strategic Account Executive, RTI International
- Danielle Crimmins, Ph.D. | Social Science Research Analyst, Office of Criminal Justice Systems, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
- Jillian Barnas, Ph.D. | Safety, Health, and Wellness Research Advisor, Office of Technology and Standards, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
- Johnathan McGrath, Ph.D. | Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
Some content in this webinar may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
The Effects of Vicarious Trauma and Burnout in Forensic Scientists: A Casual-Comparative Study
Forensic science is a multi-disciplinary field comprised of professionals working together to detect, collect, analyze, and present findings from various forms of physical evidence associated with a case. These individuals are frequently exposed to traumatic case material, often daily, and are also subject to a demanding, sometimes physically taxing, job that can have potentially negative impacts on their mental and physical wellbeing. Exposure to traumatic material can have lasting effects on forensic professionals, potentially leading to secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and may also contribute to a general sense of burnout and job dissatisfaction. While many studies have investigated the effects of job-related stress on psychologists and first responders, relatively few studies have been published on the potentially detrimental effects of occupational stress on forensic science professionals.
This presentation will provide attendees with a general background of the different types of stress, trauma, and burnout that professionals may experience, accompanied by a brief overview of current literature. Participants will then learn about the results of a casual-comparative qualitative research study conducted with 585 forensic scientists across multiple disciplines. The study examined the effects of case exposure on the prevalence of vicarious trauma and burnout, as measured by the Trauma Attachment Belief Scale and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, respectively. Results will be presented on the correlation between stress, forensic scientists’ general wellbeing, and their perceived ability to perform work duties, as measured by the Work Ability Index.
This study adds to the growing body of literature surrounding workforce resiliency among forensic scientists and provides general recommendations for future research to further understand the impact of mental health on decision-making.
Presenters
- Donia Slack, Ph.D. | Senior Director, Department of Justice Strategic Account Executive, RTI International
- Danielle Crimmins, Ph.D. | Social Science Research Analyst, Office of Criminal Justice Systems, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
Examining Trauma and Resiliency Among Forensic Science Professionals
Forensic scientists play a crucial role in the criminal justice system, often working in high-stress environments with direct exposure to violent crimes. Historically, their health and wellness needs have been overlooked in the development of support resources. However, recent research has been dedicated to understanding these health and wellness needs and the development of targeted resources to aid this professional community.
Attendees will be presented with findings from a project that explored the impact of exposure of child pornography on forensic examiners, specifically regarding their stress levels, mental and physical health, and their personal relationships. Additionally, it will highlight agency-level practices and training programs designed to promote resiliency among digital forensic examiners.
This presentation will also highlight an intramural NIJ project that examined the relationship between organizational readiness and individual experiences of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. This study utilized the Vicarious Trauma-Organizational Readiness Guide (VTORG), developed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, which was adapted for forensic science professionals to assess employee perceptions of their organization’s resiliency efforts. Additionally, the study incorporated the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) survey to collect self-report data on compassion fatigue, burnout, and job satisfaction.
This webinar will conclude by discussing how these findings can shape future research, policy, and practice to more effectively manage stress and strengthen resilience among forensic scientists.
Presenters
- Jillian Barnas, Ph.D. | Safety, Health, and Wellness Research Advisor, Office of Technology and Standards, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
- Johnathan McGrath, Ph.D. | Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence webinar has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
All Forensic Technology Center of Excellence live webinars are hosted using Zoom Webinar. Live webinars are archived and posted on our website within two weeks of their airing. Archived webinars do not require access to the Zoom platform.
The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this webinar series are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Contact us at ForensicCOE@rti.org with any questions and subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.
