Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout in Law Enforcement Since 2019 A Scoping Review

This scoping review maps the empirical evidence on compassion fatigue (CF), compassion satisfaction (CS), and burnout (BO) in law enforcement from 2019 to early 2026, following the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines (Tricco et al., 2018). The review charts 43 studies identified through database searches, AI-assisted scanning tools, and citation network analysis across 14 countries. Five principal findings emerge: (1) no study applies consistent CF/CS/BO measurement to comparable law enforcement samples before and after May 2020; (2) 13 distinct instruments appear across 43 studies, creating measurement fragmentation that precludes meta-analytic synthesis; (3) CS is consistently associated with lower CF, BO, turnover intention, anxiety, and depression across seven countries, yet only one small pilot (N = 20) has tested CS enhancement in law enforcement; (4) one mixed-methods study found qualitative CF prevalence substantially higher than concurrent quantitative estimates, raising a measurement validity question; and (5) these gaps are translated into eight testable hypotheses (H1–H8), prioritized by feasibility, to guide future research. The field's evidence base is not yet sufficient to determine whether CS causally reduces burnout, whether post-Floyd conditions have altered CF/CS/BO dynamics, or whether CS can be deliberately enhanced through targeted intervention.