This article provides an overview of recent research concerning the safeguarding of forensic science professionals.
This article, authored by NIJ staff and originally published in Police Chief, a publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, summarizes recent research about safeguarding forensic science professionals, vital personnel in the criminal justice system who routinely operate in high-stress environments. Preliminary research suggests that exposure to trauma negatively affects forensic science professionals’ overall health and wellness. The linkage between traumatic exposure and health and wellness has long been established for other justice system professionals (i.e., police and corrections officers). For forensic professionals, however, the evidence collected to date, while significant, just scratches the surface of trauma’s substantial and long-term impacts. Only a coordinated research effort can fill this knowledge gap to fundamentally improve the health and wellness of forensic science professionals. Focused research can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, remove accessibility barriers, identify effective prevention and intervention initiatives, and mitigate occupational stressors. Health and wellness tools that have worked for police and corrections officers may hold promise for forensic professionals but require implementation in the forensic science profession along with rigorous evaluation to discern their effectiveness.
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Determining the Precision of High-Throughput Sequencing and Its Influence on Aptamer Selection
- National Institute of Justice Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report
- Scaling up Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) Framework in Rural Settings Through the Idaho Rural Implementation Model