Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Crime scene investigators gather evidence and record murder scenes
and are thus in close contact with dead bodies. Continuous exposure to traumatic
crime scenes could result in post-incident stress disorders.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the stress, trauma and mental health of crime scene investigators in Tshwane, South Africa, as well as their general health and substance
use, work circumstances, help-seeking behaviour, training, and work satisfaction.
METHODS: Using convenience sampling, 79 crime scene investigators employed
at the four Local Criminal Record Centres in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan
Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa participated in a survey, using a selfadministered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS
Statistics. Associations between the mental health, stress and traumatic nature of
crime scene scales were determined using Spearman’s correlation.
RESULTS: One in five respondents (20.5%) had been diagnosed with a mental health
problem. More than half (53.9%) worked at one or two murder scenes per week.
Most (60.7%) described their work as stressful and 58.2% presented with trauma
symptomology. Murder scenes involving children were reported to be particularly
traumatic (79.2%). Most respondents (68.8%) expressed the need to speak to
someone about their work. There were positive correlations (p < 0.005) between
the mental health, stress and traumatic nature of crime scene scales.
CONCLUSION: The study shows that crime scene examiners experience disproportionate levels of stress and trauma, and uptake of in-house wellness support is low.
Despite their adverse working conditions and, for some, negative mental health
outcomes, most crime scene investigators appeared to be satisfied with their work.
