A 2024 study published in Healthcare revealed alarming trends in forensic science. Nearly 60 percent of professionals reported emotional exhaustion and over 40 percent used alcohol to cope. Another survey showed that 63 percent of crime scene investigators experienced moderate to high post-incident stress. Many also reported physical symptoms such as headaches and sleep disruption.

These findings reflect a broader truth: forensic work demands emotional resilience. The job often includes high caseloads, rigid deadlines, administrative overload, frequent court appearances and relentless exposure to violence and death. The pressure for accuracy and objectivity only intensifies that burden.

Despite all this, forensic professionals are often left out of wellness programs available to other first responders. They are expected to carry on, to stay composed. But they are still human.

I remembered a call early in my career involving a child who had died. I carried that memory for days. Then a colleague simply asked, “How are you doing?” That moment stayed with me. It reminded me I wasn’t alone.

That small gesture later became the foundation for the Checkpoints strategy - a structured peer support program designed to provide timely, compassionate outreach following emotionally impactful incidents.

When I served as Assistant Chief at the Dallas Police Department, I led an internal review of officer wellness after noticing a growing trend of burnout and disengagement among officers. The challenges weren’t limited to officers on the street; they also affected dispatchers, analysts, and those behind the scenes.

Checkpoints is more than a program; it’s a mindset. It challenges the idea that professionals should suffer in silence after witnessing trauma. It promotes early intervention, connection and validation.

The model is based on three principles:

These conversations are not clinical or evaluative in nature. They are human moments of care. At Dallas PD, this approach gradually changed our culture. Wellness became a shared responsibility. Talking about mental health became normal.

Though initially designed with patrol officers in mind, Checkpoints is equally relevant to forensic teams. They face many of the same pressures: repeated exposure to trauma, a demand for perfection and limited avenues for emotional recovery.

Forensic professionals often interact with disturbing content - whether reconstructing violent events, examining graphic evidence or testifying in adversarial courtrooms. Yet few agencies offer consistent check-ins or structured support.

A simple question from a peer, such as “How are you holding up?” after a difficult case can make a difference. These moments help prevent the isolation that can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue or worse.

Many forensic professionals hesitate to seek support for a few key reasons:

Because of these dynamics, wellness efforts in forensics must be tailored, intentional and supported by leadership from the start.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, successful strategies share a few key elements:

An effective program isn’t just consistent; it's also effective. It’s visible, human and focused on long-term care.

Wellness is rooted in connection, but technology can help scale support. Digital tools can help identify staff exposed to stressful events, prompt peer check-ins and provide secure access to wellness resources.

These systems can be customized to fit forensic workflows. They ensure no one slips through the cracks, and they support people, not monitor them. The goal is to provide care in a timely, trusted, and tailored manner to the realities of the work.