Families of Homicide Victims: Service Utilization Patterns of Extra-and Intrafamilial Homicide Survivors

• NCJ Number: 200927
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 75-82
• Author(s): Christopher Horne
• Editor(s): Vincent B. Van Hasselt, Michel Hersen
• Date Published: April 2003
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the patterns of homicide survivors’ utilization of counseling, case management, and advocacy services in light of the survivors’ relationship to the perpetrator of the homicide.

Abstract

In order to expand the knowledge about homicide survivors, specifically regarding the role of relation to the perpetrator, the goal of this study was to enhance the ability of program developers and direct practitioners to address survivors’ needs. Two questions were asked: (1) what are typical patterns of service utilization by homicide survivors and (2) how are service utilization patterns affected by the nature of the relationships between survivors and perpetrators? This study was based on data obtained from case records of the Homicide Response Program (HRP) of the Shelby County Government Victims Assistance Center in Memphis, TN. Data were collected from all HRP case files opened between August 1998 and July 1999. Records for 112 survivor groups were examined for the study. Data were collected on the relationship of the perpetrator to the victim and survivors and the degree of overall service utilization, counseling services utilization, court advocacy services utilization, and case management services utilization during the initial 8 weeks following the homicide and during the subsequent following 8 weeks. The significant differences between service utilization rates during the initial crisis period and subsequent weeks support the validity of applying the crisis theory framework to the experience of homicide survivors and their utilization of services. The findings also support expanding the implications of crisis theory for studying homicide survivors to include consideration of their relationships to perpetrators. The findings suggest that the relationship of the perpetrator to the survivor groups, and the amount of time elapsed since the homicide, justify considerable attention when planning services for survivors. References