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The Emotional Impact on and Coping Strategies Employed by Police Teams Investigating Internet Child Exploitation

From Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, carolyn.burns{at}shaw.ca

Jeff Morley

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Canada

Richard Bradshaw

From Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia

José Domene

From Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia

Work on Internet child exploitation (ICE) teams require individuals to perform a number of investigative tasks, including viewing graphic images and videos of young children being sexually assaulted and tortured, to identify victims and locate perpetrators. Individuals involved in this work may be at higher risk for experiencing secondary traumatic stress because of the graphic images and sounds to which they are exposed. The impact of ICE investigations and what helps and hinders coping with the work was explored using the Critical Incident Technique with 14 members of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police integrated ICE team. Results suggest that there are a number of organizational and personal strategies that can assist those who work in this field to cope more effectively.

Key Words: secondary traumatic stress • vicarious trauma • emotional impact • witnessing • police • criminal justice system • Internet • child exploitation

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