Influence of Traumatising Court Case Characteristics on the Level of STS among Judicial Officers in Rift Valley Region, Kenya

Abstract

The Judiciary is responsible for fair and efficient administration of justice. Due to adjudication of cases involving traumatised clients, judges and magistrates may get vicariously traumatised and hence suffer secondary traumatic stress (STS) which may impact negatively on their capacity to execute duties effectively. In this regard, this study was set to find out the degree to which this psychological condition was related to court case characteristics. The study was guided by Constructive Self Development Theory. Using ex-post facto research design, data was collected from 83 judicial officers in Rift Valley Region, Kenya, through a self-administered questionnaire with a PPMCC reliability, r = .78 for the full STS scale and r = .68, .73, and .75, for the STS subscales. Collected data was analysed through mean calculations and percentages with respect to nominal scale data while test for the hypothesis that was germane to this study was carried out using chi-square (c²) and Crammer’s V tests. Analysis task was accomplished through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme, version 22.0. Defilement, rape and robbery related cases were associated highly (at least by 20% of respondents) with STS. The association between traumatising case characteristics and STS, was statistically significant (p < .05) and that the association was strong (crammer’s V = .913). Findings from the study point out to that, The Judiciary in that it can gain understanding on how traumatizing court cases characteristics impacts judicial officers’ mental health wellbeing. Hence, the need to sensitize officers on how to identify STS symptoms, in order to take the necessary intervention measures before such symptoms reach a critical stage. Further, the judiciary may consider according more preparation training and counselling to judicial officers adjudicating on defilement, rape and robbery cases in order to reduce the risk of developing STS. Finally, scholars may identify investigation pathways they can follow with a view unearthing other factors that can influence the level of STS among judicial officers within and outside Kenya.