Procedural Justice and the Courts: Perceived Exclusion and Co-victim Satisfaction in the Criminal Processing of Murder Cases

• In Event: Victim Perceptions

Abstract

The theory of procedural justice holds that litigants are likely to be satisfied with the justice system when they perceive that the process is respectful and fair, and when they have a voice in the proceedings. This study examines problems in the criminal processing of murder cases and the satisfaction of homicide co-victims in their treatment during various stages of the court process, including notification, court hearings, and the trial itself. This exposition on the intrinsic, sometimes forgotten, but vital link between co-victims and their treatment on behalf of the court system provides striking descriptions of how attorney’s practices (e.g., use of evidence in case development, the sequestration of co-victims) involved in counseling family members contribute to secondary victimization. Using focus group data from homicide co-victims, themes are identified that illustrate common secondary victimization experiences among co-victims and their reactions to trial processes and outcomes. The study concludes by identifying ways to improve legal services to co-victims when handling murder cases.

Author

• Mark Reed, Georgia State University