Problems in the Handling of Murder Investigations: Exploring Secondary Victimization and Police Satisfaction among Homicide Co-Victims

• In Event: Police and Homicide Investigation and Victimization

Abstract

The criminal justice system often leaves families of murdered victims feeling aggrieved and alienated. Police treatment of homicide co-victims is particularly problematic involving the handling of murder investigations. Focus group data from 27 co-victims of 24 murder cases offers descriptive accounts of the investigative process from the co-victim’s viewpoint and how they felt they were treated by the police. Theme analysis using Nvivo will be used to identify common themes associated with co-victims’ secondary victimization experiences and examine how these themes relate to their satisfaction with the police. Policy implications and recommendations will be discussed.

Author

• Mark Reed, Georgia State University