ABSTRACT
This chapter explores detective's sources of vicarious trauma and burnout. Vicarious trauma could lead to depression, anger, nightmares, insomnia, isolating oneself from others, or feelings of helplessness or vulnerability. One way vicarious trauma differs from secondary traumatic stress is with vicarious trauma, ones view of the world and other people changes. Detectives have many cases to investigate and often simultaneously work with several victims. Since most detectives have experienced vicarious trauma as a result of their work on rape cases, it is not surprising that most detectives also revealed that they have changed in some way since starting their careers as rape investigators. Burnout is similar to, but more severe than, vicarious trauma. Vicarious trauma could be a precursor to burnout. Burnout includes emotional or physical exhaustion, depersonalization, apathy, cynicism, loss of compassion, tendency to be critical of own accomplishments, and depression. Burnout does not happen immediately after a stressful situation but happens over time.
