Addressing the mental health needs of non‐sworn crime scene investigators: Vicarious trauma and the consequences of structural neglect

Non-sworn crime scene investigators (CSIs) are routinely exposed to violent and traumatic material, yet their mental health needs remain underrecognized and underserved. This commentary draws on peer-reviewed literature documenting vicarious trauma, operational stress, and organizational neglect among forensic professionals and first responders, together with practitioner accounts illustrating barriers in access, cultural fit, and confidentiality. These two evidence streams form the basis for examining gaps in current wellness models. Findings indicate that existing supports-such as Employee Assistance Programs, peer support teams, and debriefings-are inconsistently available to CSIs and often lack cultural relevance, limiting their effectiveness. In response, targeted, agency-level recommendations are outlined: explicitly include CSIs in wellness policies; recruit and train CSI peer supporters; partner with culturally competent clinicians; provide role-specific coping and resilience training; monitor workload and exposure; involve families; and ensure confidential pathways to care. Further emphasis is the need to evaluate these interventions before, during, and after implementation to determine which approaches provide the greatest benefit. Addressing the mental health of non-sworn CSIs is essential to workforce sustainability, investigative quality, and the overall integrity of forensic science.