NCJ Number
195794
Date Published
March 2002
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This document presents an evaluation of services provided to the surviving family members of homicide victims in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Abstract
Telephone interviews were conducted with family members known to the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) who were willing to participate. The majority of the homicide victims in the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie case were United States citizens. Among the services offered were an international toll-free telephone line that contained information about the progress of the investigation and trial; funding and coordination of travel and lodging; and funds to pay for mental health counseling for victim's family members throughout the trial process. There was quite a time lag between the time of the bombing and the authorization of OVC to provide services and during this time lag many families were distraught and in need of services. This report focuses on the utilization of and satisfaction with OVC services; recommendations for improvements of services; satisfaction with process and outcome of the legal case; mental health-related issues; and support for public policy changes in OVC services. Results indicate that most family members were aware of and satisfied with services provided by OVC, with the exception of mental health services. Some recommendations offered by the family members were (1) provide families with more rapid analysis from the prosecution team so they could provide up-to-date information to victims; and (2) update information more quickly so victims can find out things from the OVC phone line instead of from the media. Only 17 percent of family members were very satisfied with the process and outcome of the case, while 54 percent said they were somewhat satisfied. Data indicate that 48 percent of family members said they had experienced emotional or behavioral problems that were sufficiently bad that they considered seeking mental health counseling. Only 36 percent had actually sought mental health services. Some of the policy changes most family members thought were important were supporting all family members to attend the trial instead of two and directly contacting all family members who wished to be kept informed about the case. 1 table, 11 references