ǂThe ǂtrauma and coping in homicide and sexual offences and juvenile crime criminal investigators

Abstract

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.

Keywords

police work;psychology;trauma;coping;criminal investigators;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2017
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UM FVV - Faculty of Criminal Justice
UDC:	159.9:351.74/.76
COBISS:	3512042
ISSN:	1580-0253
Parent publication:	Varstvoslovje
Views:	597
Downloads:	23
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Travma in strategije spoprijemanja pri kriminalistih z Oddelka za krvne in seksualne delikte ter Oddelka za mladoletniško kriminaliteto
Secondary abstract:	Namen prispevka: Namen prispevka je razširitev raziskovalnega polja travme pri policistih. Prispevek predstavlja rezultate širše raziskave o travmi in spoprijemanju s problemskimi situacijami pri dveh specifičnih skupinah kriminalistov: z Oddelka za krvne in seksualne delikte (KSD) in Oddelka za mladoletniško kriminaliteto (MK). Predstavljene so ugotovitve za obe skupini. Kjer je bilo mogoče, so bile analizirane tudi morebitne razlike med njima. Metode: K sodelovanju je bilo povabljenih vseh 56 kriminalistov z oddelkov za KSD in MK v RS. Odzivnost je bila visoka: 92,59 % (n = 25) za KSD in 82,14 % (n = 23) za MK. Sodelujoči so podpisali informirano soglasje in vprašalnike izpolnili med delovnim časom. Kasneje so lahko na željo prejeli individualno povratno informacijo o rezultatih. Ugotovitve: Rezultati kažejo nizko posttravmatsko simptomatiko, ki se veže predvsem na izogibajoče strategije spoprijemanja. Ugotovljene so bile specifične delovne situacije, vezane na višji posttravmatski stres. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave Kljub visoki odzivnosti udeležencev sta obe skupini majhni, kar omejuje možnosti statistične analize. Obenem kompleksnejše analize tudi niso možne, ker se večina podatkov ne porazdeljuje normalno. Praktična uporabnost: Prečna ocena posttravmatske simptomatike da smernice za preventivne in morda kurativne programe za kriminaliste, kar lahko koristi in doprinese k učinkovitejšemu delu policije. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Gre za prvo slovensko raziskavo na ozkem področju travme in strategij spoprijemanja v specifičnih policijskih skupinah.
Secondary keywords:	policijsko delo;psihologija;poklicni stres;travma;strategije spoprijemanja;kriminalisti;
Type (COBISS):	Scientific work
Pages:	str. 323-338
Volume:	ǂLetn. ǂ19
Issue:	ǂšt. ǂ4
Chronology:	2017
ID:	11539689