IJSMT Journal

International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology

An International, Peer-Reviewed, Open Access Scholarly Journal Indexed in recognized academic databases · DOI via Crossref The journal adheres to established scholarly publishing, peer-review, and research ethics guidelines set by the UGC

ISSN: 3108-1762 (Online)
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BEARING WITNESS TO TRAUMA: EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES FACED BY POLICE OFFICERS WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF WOMEN ABUSE IN BENGALURU

AUTHORS:
Dr.Bindya Yohannan
Mentor
Dr.G.Gayathri Ranjith
Affiliation
CC BY 4.0 License:
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract

 Police officers investigating cases of violence against women occupy a critical position in the criminal justice system. As first responders and investigators, they frequently encounter survivors who have experienced severe physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological abuse. While extensive research has focused on the trauma experienced by survivors, limited attention has been given to the emotional and psychological impact on police personnel who engage with such cases daily. This article explores the emotional challenges faced by police officers working with survivors of women abuse in Bengaluru. Drawing upon existing literature on secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, occupational stress, and trauma-informed policing, the paper examines the psychological burden associated with repeated exposure to traumatic narratives and distressing incidents. The study highlights emotional exhaustion, burnout, empathy fatigue, role conflict, and organizational challenges experienced by police professionals. It further discusses coping strategies and institutional mechanisms that can strengthen resilience among officers. The findings emphasize the need for psychological support systems, trauma-informed training, and organizational reforms to promote officer well-being while ensuring effective survivor-centered policing.

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Yohannan, B. (2026). Bearing Witness to Trauma: Emotional Challenges Faced by Police Officers Working with Survivors of Women Abuse in Bengaluru. International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, 02(05). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.602

Yohannan, Bindya. "Bearing Witness to Trauma: Emotional Challenges Faced by Police Officers Working with Survivors of Women Abuse in Bengaluru." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, vol. 02, no. 05, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.602.

Yohannan, Bindya. "Bearing Witness to Trauma: Emotional Challenges Faced by Police Officers Working with Survivors of Women Abuse in Bengaluru." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology 02, no. 05 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.602.

References
1.Cocker, F., & Joss, N. (2016). Compassion fatigue among healthcare, emergency and community service workers: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(6), 618.

2.Foley, J., & Massey, K. L. D. (2020). The cost of caring in policing: From burnout to PTSD in police officers in England and Wales. Police Journal, 94(3), 1–17.

3.Foley, J., Hassett, A., & Williams, E. (2021). Getting on with the job: A systematised literature review of secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in policing within the United Kingdom. Police Journal, 95(1), 1–20.

4.Purba, A., & Demou, E. (2019). The relationship between organisational stressors and mental wellbeing within police officers: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 19(1286), 1–21.

5.Sherwood, L., Hegarty, S., Vallières, F., Hyland, P., Murphy, J., Fitzgerald, G., & Reid, T. (2019). Identifying the key risk factors for adverse psychological outcomes among police officers: A systematic literature review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(5), 688–700.

6.Ugwu, L. E., & Idemudia, E. S. (2024). Burnout and post-traumatic stress disorders in police officers: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 40, 645–658.
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✓ All ethical standards met
This article has undergone plagiarism screening and double-blind peer review. Editorial policies have been followed. Authors retain copyright under CC BY-NC 4.0 license. The research complies with ethical standards and institutional guidelines.
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