“After that, I was leery about giving anybody a break about anything”: Officer-perceived consequences of trauma exposure on interactions with the public

Hofer, Meret S.; Guarnera, Lucy A.; Savell, Shannon

doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2021.101833

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Research on occupationally derived stress and trauma among police officers and other justice system actors has traditionally focussed on direct traumatic exposure to physical events (Lee et al, 2020; Regehr et al, 2021a; Skogstad et al, 2013; Wagner et al, 2020). Effects of such exposure in police officers and other public safety personnel, for instance, include avoidance of situations that may result in further risk of psychological or physical harm, depersonalization, emotion dysregulation, and hostile, defensive, and enforcement-based approaches to the public (Hofer et al, 2021; Park et al, 2021). In addition, following the example of research on workplace empathy-based stress responses – such as secondary traumatic stress or vicarious traumatization – that arise from indirect exposure to others’ traumatic experiences among the helping and other professions (Brady, 2017; Branson, 2019; Molnar et al, 2020; Pirelli et al, 2020; Slack, 2020), a limited but growing body of research is examining indirect secondary traumatic stressors and their effects in professions or roles within the justice system, such as police officers (Brady, 2017), lawyers (Leclerc et al, 2020; Seamone, 2013; Zwisohn et al, 2018), judges (Edwards and Miller, 2019; Polak et al, 2019), and jurors (Haragi et al, 2020; Lonergan et al, 2016; McQuiston et al, 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Organizational support for the potentially traumatic impact of video evidence of violent crime in the criminal justice system: ‘We’re almost making more victims’

Birze

Regehr

Regehr³

2022

International Review of Victimology

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As graphic video evidence becomes a standard element in the investigation and prosecution of violent crime, criminal justice organizations must consider and address exposure to and impact of this potentially traumatizing workplace material for criminal justice professionals. Using a discovery-oriented qualitative design and a long-interview method of data collection, this study explores organizational responses to the exposure of criminal justice professionals to a growing volume of video evidence of violent crime. Repeated exposure to high-quality video evidence has the effect of placing criminal justice professionals in the midst of traumatic events, resulting in responses that are akin to trauma contagion. However, organizational awareness and the acceptance of trauma and support systems have not kept pace with the exponential rise in exposure, often being deployed when the person is no longer able to continue in their role. As a result, affected individuals may over-rely on equally affected colleagues for support, intensifying the cycle of trauma contagion. Organizational responses to reduce trauma contagion and the psychological burden on professionals working with video evidence of violent crime should occur at three levels: prevention through moderating exposure; preparation through creating a culture of awareness and acceptance; and intervention through systematic and formal supports.

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confidence: 99%

Organizational support for the potentially traumatic impact of video evidence of violent crime in the criminal justice system: ‘We’re almost making more victims’

Birze

Regehr

Regehr³

2022

International Review of Victimology

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“…Participants also mentioned specific emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms that map onto clinically relevant diagnoses, including depressive, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders (see Table 4). Other noteworthy clinical problems discussed included “addiction” ( n = 4; Anderson et al, 2022; Bullock & Garland, 2018; Edwards & Kotera, 2021; Turner & Jenkins, 2019), “vicarious trauma” ( n = 9; Deschênes et al, 2018; Evans et al, 2013; Gumani, 2017, 2022; Hofer et al, 2021; Parkes et al, 2019; Rudd & D’Andrea, 2015; Sigad et al, 2016; Willemse, 2021), “burnout” ( n = 7; Dick, 2000; Jackman et al, 2021; Jetelina, Beauchamp, et al, 2020; McCormack & Riley, 2016; Regehr et al, 2003; Ricciardelli & Carleton, 2022; Singh & Kar, 2015; Tapson et al, 2022), “presenteeism, absenteeism, or turnover” ( n = 4; Edwards & Kotera, 2021; Jackman et al, 2021; Parkes et al, 2019; Turner & Jenkins, 2019), and “moral injury or organizational betrayal” ( n = 11; Anderson et al, 2022; Bullock & Garland, 2018; Dick, 2000; Hartman & Ellis, 2022; Jackman et al, 2021; McCormack & Riley, 2016; Regehr et al, 2003; Ricciardelli & Carleton, 2022; Tapson et al, 2022; Willemse, 2021; Wills et al, 2021).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Law enforcement mental health: A systematic review of qualitative research.

Casas,

Kegel

2023

Psychological Services

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The aim of this review was to explore qualitative accounts of law enforcement (LE) officers' personal experiences of mental health, in terms of linguistic descriptions, relationships between occupational experiences and mental health, and challenges to maintaining mental well-being. Using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, 1,876 articles were screened, and 31 studies were included in the current review. A risk of bias assessment was used to assess the study's methodological rigor, and data were extracted to answer three exploratory research questions. Results revealed that LE officers frequently experience occupational stressors and identify different mental health difficulties as a result. Additionally, cultural norms and stigma prevalent in the LE profession were noted to contribute to experiences of mental health and impact LE officers' ability to reach out for help and utilize professional resources. This review suggests that efforts to offer mental health services to LE officers need to prioritize cultural competence, confidentiality, and education to overcome stigma and increase mental health literacy and service use. Stakeholders addressing the LE mental health crisis may find this review useful due to several practical recommendations offered. Impact StatementThis review suggested that law enforcement officers' subjective experiences of mental health are multifaceted, impacted by both on-and off-duty experiences, and influenced by cultural norms and stigma. While stigmatized beliefs varied, common themes included fears of loss of job, reputation, or social support for reaching out and seeking professional help. Stakeholders addressing the LE mental health crisis should aim to increase mental health education and reduce stigma at individual and organizational levels to positively impact mental health service use among this population.

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“…The curriculum is organized around ABLE’s three pillars of harm reduction: avoiding mistakes, preventing misconduct, and promoting health and wellness. The course explicitly acknowledges not only the physical risks of policing but also the psychological and physiological impacts of prolonged exposure to primary and secondary trauma (Daniel & Treece, 2022; Hofer et al, 2021; Liberman et al, 2002; Papazoglou & Tuttle, 2018). Instructors engage participants in discussions of how active bystandership can help counter the risks officers face on the job.…”

Section: The Able Standardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active bystandership for law enforcement: Improving public safety by creating a policing culture of peer intervention.

Kurtz¹,

Tucker²

2023

Psychological Services

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In recent years, law enforcement agencies have come under severe criticism for officer misconduct and mistakes. As a result, changes have been imposed upon these agencies from outside of law enforcement. These changes include mandated policies, budget allocations, and in extreme cases, consent decrees. A national model launched in 2020, the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project seeks to give agencies the tools they need to create culture change internally by embracing officer peer intervention as a tool to prevent misconduct, avoid mistakes, and promote health and wellness. This article describes the following regarding ABLE: (a) history and program development timeline, (b) programmatic structure and objectives, and (c) an examination of ABLE's potential to help law enforcement agencies create meaningful, positive culture change to improve public health and safety using active bystandership. Impact StatementLaw enforcement agencies across the United States face a crisis of public trust, spurred in part by high-profile incidents of harmful, and sometimes fatal, police actions. This article examines the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, an approach to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve by creating a culture of self-regulating behavior and peer intervention within law enforcement agencies.

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“After that, I was leery about giving anybody a break about anything”: Officer-perceived consequences of trauma exposure on interactions with the public

Cited by 6 publications

References 55 publications

Organizational support for the potentially traumatic impact of video evidence of violent crime in the criminal justice system: ‘We’re almost making more victims’

Organizational support for the potentially traumatic impact of video evidence of violent crime in the criminal justice system: ‘We’re almost making more victims’

Law enforcement mental health: A systematic review of qualitative research.

Active bystandership for law enforcement: Improving public safety by creating a policing culture of peer intervention.

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