Homocide co-victims: confidence in the criminal justice system
| Pages | 240-252 |
| Published date | 16 September 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-03-2019-0020 |
| Date | 16 September 2019 |
| Author | Elaine Brown,Jonathan Crego |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Homocide co-victims: confidence in the
criminal justice system
Elaine Brown and Jonathan Crego
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to address the phenomenology of family members of homicide
victims; known as “co-victims”. In particular, co-victims experiences of the criminal justice system (CJS) in
England and Wales.
Design/methodology/approach –In 2018, 10 kV methodology facilitated an electronic-focus group.
Anonymously, volunteers from families of homicide victims responded to key questions in a session entitled
“a conversation which matters: confidence”. The thematic analysis presents the responses to three questions
around “what works”and “what does not”in CJS practice.
Findings –The responses indicate four themes in relation to confidence building: communication and
information; outcome; honesty and fairness; and family support. Responses indicate three themes in relation
to what the CJS does well: family liaison officers, homicide detectives and court services. Responses indicate
three themes in relation to what is not working: court proceedings, police budget cuts and preventative
interventions.
Research limitations/implications –The research considers benefits and limitations of methodology and
makes suggestions for how these facets could be addressed by future research.
Practical implications –The research findings reveal good practice and points for attention to support
confidence building in the CJS. Amongst other considerations, the work advances CJS practical good
practice principles from the perspective of co-victims: education, interpersonal relations, working together,
communication and justice.
Originality/value –Findings are of value to CJS policy makers, training and education for co-victim support,
police and academics.
Keywords Homicide, Family, Confidence, Murder, Good practice, Criminal justice system,
Attention points, Co-victims
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
It is difficult to understand how it must feel to open the door to a police officer who is there to tell
you that your loved one has been killed at the hands of another. What we can try to understand,
with the help of co-victims, is how the subsequent criminal justice system (CJS) investigation
feels for those suffering in this way, and how the system can be improved to assist them in
encountering processes. The crime of homicide is well established as a research focus, however
consideration of co-victims has received comparatively less attention. Co-victims experience a
“unique synergy”of loss and psychological trauma, often over extended periods of time engaged
with the CJS. Co-victims are a population of victims who have been “hidden”from research
focus for too long (Armour, 2002). A literature review will frame the context of co-victim research.
This begins to highlight the limitations and ambiguity in the literature over exactly “what”and
“who”co-victims are. The paper puts forward a paradigm for understanding “types”of co-
victims as “primary”or “secondary”. By contextualising research conducted in the UK
comparatively with that of American data, it becomes apparent that research at a global level is
sparse. In contemporary England and Wales, instances of homicide have increased yearly, and
as a consequence so have the number of co-victims. It is important that criminological research
investigates the effectiveness of CJS interventions and policy from the perspective of co-victims
Received 31 March 2019
Revised 9 July 2019
Accepted 31 July 2019
The author(s) declared no
conflicting interests with respect to
the research, authorship, and/or
the publication of this article.
Research was funded by a large
Metropolitan Police Force in the
UK. Professor J. Crego facilitated
the 10 kV eventbut no money was
exchanged, no private company or
persons has financially benefited
from the data gathering. The
authors have been given
permission by the constabulary to
publish the findings anonymously.
The authors would like to thank
the constabulary who supported
the dissemination and
acknowledge the participants.
Elaine Brown and Jonathan
Crego are both based at the
Department of Law and
Criminal Justice, Canterbury
Christ Church University,
Canterbury, UK.
PAGE240
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH,POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 5 NO. 3 2019, pp.240-252, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-03-2019-0020
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