Citation

van Patten IT, Burke TW. Homicide Stud. 2001; 5(2): 131-152.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767901005002003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study focuses on the homicide investigator and the death encounter. The authors examined the effects of critical incident stress on the death investigator who has been exposed to the murder of a child. The participants in the study (N = 67) were all actively involved in the difficult business of investigating death by homicide. Included were detectives, criminalists, and personnel from the medical examiner's office. It was found that these investigators experienced significantly higher levels of stress when compared with ordinary adults. In addition, it was determined that exposure to traumatic stimuli at the crime scene involving the death of a child was the most significant predictor variable of stress. The potential effectiveness of critical incident stress management in mediating the effects of this exposure is discussed, and recommendations made for the care and support of death investigators as well as directions for further inquiry.