Matthew A. KnappUniversity of Alabama

STUDIES ON THOSE WHO HAVE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER DIE BY HOMICIDE

STUDIES ON THOSE WHO ARE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS OF A HOMICIDE PERPETRATOR

Qualitative : experiences of survivors (2)

Theory (5) Therapeutic

Interventions (3) Service Provision (3) Victim Impact

Statements (2)

Qualitative (experiences of survivors) (5)

Have skyrocketed since the early 1980’s Victim/Witness Protection Act of 1982 Allows for Victim Impact Statement prior

to sentencing State and federal programs set up for

referral, counseling, and financial support

Numerous human service agencies assist victims (e.g. San Diego)

Co-victims may begin or join support groups (e.g. Parents of Murdered Children)

May start/attend self help groups Private counseling Going to conferences Prison support (rare), involving funeral

arrangements, distribution of possessions, and follow-up from professionals after execution

Religiosity

Sleeplessness Guilt Anxiety Fear Being ostracized from their community No opportunity to provide an Impact Statement prior to

sentencing Possible loss/decrease in income Stress due to media exposure Isolation Increased stress in dealing with the perpetrator over

time Prolonged, complicated grief (knowing the family

member will die, postponement due to appeals draws out process

Relationship problems in the family unit

Foucault and the “Panopticon” Shift from punishment of the body to control of the mind Treatment of perpetrator families may be less about

overt actions, more about the covert Denial or lack of existing formal services might = covert

control Others in the community acting as “guards” between

victim and perpetrators families Community as Panopticon- discouraging families of

perpetrators from full participation in community

Goffman The Stigmatized Body Perpetrators families attempting to

“pass” Being “found out” reinforces negative

self-image Stress of “secret keeping”

FAMILIES OF VICTIMS: FAMILIES OF PERPETRATORS:

Feel the homicide was senseless

Have profound alteration of world view

Seek justice through legal system

Rarely meet or speak with perpetrators family

Understand why their family member received death sentence-accept it

Have less alteration of world view

Often want to speak with and apologize to victim’s family

Experience feelings of guilt Feel shock and horror Anger Experience relationship problems in family

unit Are stressed by media attention Report issues with Law Enforcement

(manner of death notification, and perceptions of “guilt by association”)

Allowing a form of VIS from the family of the perpetrator prior to sentencing

Using professionals who can work with both “sides” (families) to facilitate communication between them

Providing a separate space for perpetrator’s family to regroup during trial and sentencing

Providing for emotional and mental health concerns before, during and after trial and sentencing

Increased implementation of Social/Restorative Justice options

Both victims and perpetrator families have many overlapping issues and experiences

Literature on perpetrator’s family’s experiences was strong in the 1970’s, disappeared after the Victim/Witness Protection Act in 1982, and now is coming back in the past few years

Supports within a community differ dramatically Each “body” (of victim and perpetrator) is forever

tied to the respective families, maintaining social status distinctions

Witnessing an execution did little to provide closure to families of homicide victims

How homicide is viewed and addressed is a societal issue, rather than simply an individual issue