Secondary Trauma In Police Officers Investigating Child Sexual Exploitation Materials

The traumatic nature of the work specialist police staff conduct places them at risk of developing work-related stress and psychological health difficulties. Police officers who investigate cases involving child sexual exploitation material are exposed to images and videos of sexual violence against children, participate in undercover chats, and interact with perpetrators and victims. Such experiences can tremendously affect officer wellness and personal life. For example, many officers remain preoccupied with (old) cases, experience sexual problems within their own intimate relationships, and/or struggle with physical contact with their children-indicative of secondary or vicarious trauma. In this chapter, we examine existing knowledge regarding risk and protective factors for secondary/vicarious trauma among police officers investigating child sexual exploitation cases online and offline. Next, we consider implications for practice and recommendations to take this crucial area of research forward.