Murder and the long-term impact on co-victims
| Author | Henk Ferwerda,Anton van Wijk,Ilse van Leiden |
| Published date | 01 May 2017 |
| Date | 01 May 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0269758016684421 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Murder and the long-term
impact on co-victims: A
qualitative, longitudinal study
Anton van Wijk, Ilse van Leiden and Henk Ferwerda
Bureau Beke, Arnhem, The Netherlands
Abstract
Co-victims – surviving relatives of murder and homicide victims – experience practical, emotional,
psychological and legal problems as a result of the murder of their loved ones. Available findings are
often based on cross-sectional studies. Longitudinal research is necessary to gain an understanding
of the problems co-victims face. A total of 28 co-victims have been monitored for more than five
years (63 months on average). The outcome shows that problems generally decrease over the
course of time. Emotional and psychological problems may grow worse, however, during criminal
proceedings and at the time of sentencing. Long-term care and support for this group is desirable.
Keywords
Murder, co-victims, longitudinal design, impact problems
Introduction
The number of murder and homicide cases in the Netherlands has been falling for years. In the mid-
1990s, there was an average of 250 murders a year, by the turn of the century that number had
dropped to 200 and for the past few years it has hovered around the 140 mark.
1
This downward
trend has also been observed in other Western countries. A murder does not only affect the victim,
it also impacts the wider family and network of relatives – the so called co-victims. We choose, in
line with some other studies the term co-victims. Other studies refer to these individuals as
survivors, victim–covictims or secondary victims. All these terms refer to anyone who has been
impacted by the death of their loved one by homicide. The consequences of homicide may be
serious and long-term for these people (Asaro and Clements, 2005; Thompson et al., 1998). The
psychological issues co-victims have to contend with are more serious than the problems victims of
other kinds of crimes experience (Lamet and Wittebrood, 2009; Rando, 1996; Rheingold et al.,
Corresponding author:
Anton van Wijk, Bureau Beke, Turfstraat 1, 6811 HL Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Email: a.vanwijk@beke.nl
International Review of Victimology
2017, Vol. 23(2) 145–157
ªThe Author(s) 2016
Reprints and permission:
sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0269758016684421
journals.sagepub.com/home/irv
To continue reading
Request your trial