What Is Forensic Trauma?

Forensic trauma is a trauma, or injury, caused by a criminal act. For example, a knife wound is a trauma when an individual accidentally cuts his finger while chopping onions. However, a knife wound on that same individual resulting from someone else stabbing him would be a forensic trauma.

Types

• Forensic trauma may be physical or emotional. Physical trauma is usually evident, but emotional trauma may not present itself until later. Some symptoms of emotional trauma include nightmares, depression, fear and withdrawal. Psychologists and counselors trained in working with trauma victims can help in treating this condition.

Considerations

• Forensic traumas must be handled very carefully to not re-traumatize the victim or lose valuable evidence. For example, sexual assaults are investigated for evidence including wounds and DNA. This involves an internal exam and can be a frightening prospect for someone who has been violated. Forensic trauma treatment is two-fold: tend to the victim and gather evidence for possible future legal action against the perpetrator.

Function

• Forensic trauma experts function in many aspects of the medical and legal aftermath of a crime. A forensic nurse, for example, cares for the patient's wounds, but also collects physical evidence from the patient's body and may even testify in legal settings.