U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Just Science Podcast: Just the Impact of Disturbing Media

NCJ Number
255170
Author(s)
Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar
Date Published
September 2020
Length
3 pages
Annotation

This eighth episode in the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) Just Science podcast series is an interview with Dr. Kathryn Seigfried-Speller from Purdue University, who discusses her research on the connection between disturbing media and the forensic examiners who analyze it.

Abstract

The interview first focuses on the increasing volume of digital audio and visual images to which forensic analysts are being exposed in their daily work. This often involves the repetitive viewing of and listening to scenarios of human suffering and abuse, with some involving child victims. Consequently, psychological health and well-being becomes an issue in the management of personnel in a forensic crime lab. The psychological health of analysts in crime labs must be a focus of training and daily routines. Issues that must be addressed are awareness of the psychological impact of such analyses and the features and development of constructive and adverse means of coping with the stress both on and off the job.