The violent death of a family member, intimate partner, or close friend is one of the most traumatic experiences you could ever face.  It is an event for which no one can adequately prepare, and it results in a wide range of emotional pain and upheaval.  Everyone close to the victim will grieve in different ways.  Your involvement with the criminal justice system may complicate your grief.  Victim advocates are an important resource for the family and loved ones of a homicide victim.  Victim advocates strive to minimize the devastating impact of these crimes, and to provide services and support through the investigation and prosecution of an offender. 

SURVIVING A HOMICIDE IN THE FAMILY

What you can do to help yourself…

• Accept that your feelings are OK
• Express your feelings openly with others
• Allow yourself and members of your family to grieve and mourn in their own way and at their own pace
• Stay involved with life
• Be good to yourself
• Give yourself time to make and sort out major decisions
• Channel your strong emotions into some kind of constructive action or activity
• Know your rights.

(Surviving a Homicide in the Family by Connie Stallone Adleman, R.N.)

GRIEF AND CHILDREN

• Grief can be experienced by children
• Any child who is old enough to love is old enough to feel grief
• Honesty is often a good policy when talking to children about death.

YOUR RIGHTS AS NEXT OF KIN TO A HOMICIDE VICTIM

• Right to submit a statement to dispute facts in the record or the probation officer’s report, or to present additional facts at least four days before sentence is imposed on the defendant
• Right to make a Victim Impact Statement in person, in writing, or by audio or video tape
• Right to notice at least 30 days before a parole hearing, and right to give Victim Impact Statement at parole hearing with assistance of a support person in person, in writing, or by audio or video tape
• Right to learn the final disposition of the case upon your request
• Right to receive in trust any proceeds earned by the offender for any story or film made as a result of the crime
• Right to learn of sentencing recommendation of the Probation Department.

Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc., Greater Orange County Chapter

(714)-999-7132

Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc., National Organization     

(818) 818-POMC 

Compassionate Friends         

(714) 993-6708 

District Attorney’s Homicide Unit                       

(714) 347-8482