NCJ Number
169278
Date Published
1998
Length
295 pages
Annotation
This book focuses on the invisible victims of homicide, the co-victims or survivors, including their ordeal, their grief, their pain, and their reconstruction of new lives.
Abstract
The first chapter provides an overview of murder in the United States and defines the concept of the victim-survivor. This overview is intended to provide professionals with the knowledge to develop, frame, and deliver appropriate services to co-victims. The second chapter presents a new model for viewing traumatic grief. The model encompasses all aspects of traumatic grief, including the emotional experiences, cultural and gender influences, and mental health issues. This model should result in new strategies for treating the co-victim of homicide. The next two chapters discuss the situational influences or special circumstances of co-victims, as it views the relationship of family and friends to the victim as well as the circumstances under which a murder occurred. The fifth chapter includes a field-tested training model and death notification protocol, so that caregivers, if not notifiers themselves, can train others in effective death notification. Interventions and tools specifically designed for use with co-victims are offered in the sixth chapter to guide the service provider. Because most co- victims will need to confront legal matters -- criminal, civil, or both -- caregivers need an understanding of these systems and knowledge of the legal rights of co-victims; these are discussed in chapter 7. The remaining two chapters address the positive and negative effects of media coverage and the elements of the healing process, as well as the reconstructing of a new life. 160 references, a list of resources, and a subject index