Homicide Investigations and Survivors of Homicide

This chapter will explore the often-forgotten survivors of homicide who are having to endure a criminal investigation whilst managing the ‘traumatic grief’ that follows such a devastating event and what is often intense media coverage. We will explore how, despite having the same end goal as the survivor, those investigating homicide have many different priorities and approaches in trying to reach that goal. It will be shown that the actions of investigators have a direct role to play in influencing the grief processes of those closest to the victim. We will see that how they are notified about the homicide, how the victim’s lifestyle is examined and how, in England and Wales, the family liaison officer works with the family all have a significant impact on the victim’s grief and their perceptions of homicide investigators.