HOMICIDE: ITS IMPACT AND EFFECTS

2. Participant Objectives Participants will understand the scope of homicide in the US and in particular intrapersonal homicides as they relate to women and children Participants will understand the importance of Death Notification and the general procedure Participants will learn the impact homicide has on co-victims

4. Homicide Overview Act of Violence Homicide refers to the act of killing another human being. It can also be describe as a person who has committed such an act though the use is rare in Modern English. Homicide is not always an illegal act

5. Homicide Overview Each situation is unique Homicide Types Most common homicides

6. Homicide Overview We are all suspects At any given point or time any person could be a suspect for the crime of murder

7. FBI Homicide Statistical Info 2007 2003 national violent crime total- 1,383,676. Of that number 16,528 were murders 2004 national violent crime total- 1,360,088. Of that number 16,148 were murders 2005 national violent crime total-1,390,745. Of that number 16,740 were murders 2006 national violent crime total- 1,418,043. Of that number 17,030 were murders

8. FBI Homicide Statistical Info Nationwide, an estimated 1,408,337 violent crimes occurred in 2007. 16,929 of those crimes were murders (FBI 2007) In 2007, offenders used firearms in 68% of the Nation�s murders (FBI 2007)

9. TN Homicide Statute Criminal homicide (T.C.A.39-13-201) in the State of Tennessee according to Tennessee Code Annotated citations are as follows: First degree murder; T.C.A. 39-13-202 Second degree murder; T.C.A. 39-13-210 Voluntary manslaughter; T.C.A. 39-13-211 Criminally negligent homicide; T.C.A. 39-13-212 Vehicular homicide; T.C.A. 39-13-213 Other Homicide categories: Reckless Justifiable

10. TBI Homicide Stats 2007 409 homicides (murder and negligent manslaughter) occurred in 2007, (TBI; Crime in Tennessee 2007). Of these homicides 75% of the perpetrators were male and the remaining 25% were female The race of the perpetrators included: 36.1% African American, 62.9% white, 0.5% Unknown, 0.3% Asian and 0.1%Native American 78% of the victims were male, 20% were female and 2% were considered unknown

11. TBI Homicide Stats 2007 The race of the victims included: 43% White, 55% African American, 1% unknown, 1% Asian and 0% Native American 44.5% of all Homicides occurred between the hours of 9:00pm and 3:00am 51.9% of all homicides occurred at a residence Of the 409 homicides reported in 2007, 82 were DV related (TBI 2007)

12. Domestic crimes include all offenses committed against family members, spouses and ex-spouses, roommates, and romantic partners and ex-romantic partners Usually synonymous with dating violence and spousal abuse Includes violence between siblings, parents and children, step-parents and step-children, foster-parents and foster-children, and other family members Interpersonal Violence (IPV)

13. Domestic violence often involves a pattern of coercive behavior that includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse Most DV victims are women and children In 2007 DV murders were 20% of all murders reported in TN In Memphis in 2008 there were 128 homicides reported and 33 of those were recorded as DV homicides Interpersonal Violence (IPV)

14. Interpersonal Violence (IPV)Lethality Indicators "OWNERSHIP" OF THE BATTERED PARTNER "Death before divorce!" or "You belong to me and will never belong to another!" "If I can't have you nobody will!" Entitled to a woman's services, obedience and loyalty CENTRALITY OF THE PARTNER  Idolize partner Depends heavily on her to organize and sustain his life Isolated himself from all other community

15. IPV Lethality Indicators TIMINGWhen a batterer believes that he is about to lose His (ex) partner or when he concludes that she is permanently leaving him; if he cannot envision life without her, this may be when he chooses to kill�.). Women are most likely to be murdered when attempting to report abuse or to leave an abusive relationship (Sonkin et al, 1985; Brown, 1987) 

16. IPV Lethality Indicators  REPEATED INTERVENTION BY LAW ENFORCEMENTPartner/spousal homicide almost always occurs in a context of historical violence. Prior intervention by the police indicate elevated risk of life-threatening conduct

17. IPV Lethality Indicators HISTORY OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIORA batterer who has demonstrated aggressive behavior in public such as bar fights, gang related violence� or illegal occupation is likely to be more dangerous HOSTAGE-TAKING A hostage-taker is at high risk of inflicting homicide. Between 75% and 90% of all hostage takings in the US are DV situations

18. IPV Lethality Indicators DRUGS AND ALCOHOLMen with a history of problems with drugs and/or alcohol show a higher risk. In addition, regardless of their drug and/or alcohol history, intoxication at the time of the assault shows significant risk to partners VIOLENCE IN FAMILY OF ORIGIN The more severe the violence either experienced personally, or observed, in the family of origin, the more the risk

19. Killing of Children Fatal child abuse may involve repeated abuse over a period of time It may involve a single, impulsive incident (e.g., drowning, suffocating, or shaking a baby) In cases of fatal neglect, the child's death results not from anything the caregiver does, but from a caregiver's failure to act The neglect may be chronic (e.g., extended malnourishment) or acute (an infant who drowns after being left unsupervised in the bathtub). (The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System 2006)

20. Death Notification Family is notified by authorities when someone dies violently and suddenly, i.e. car accident, DUI, homicide, suicide No uniform/set policy Agencies have individual procedures The task no one wants

21. Death Notification Usually made by local Law Enforcement Chaplains with Law Enforcement Department Trained Advocate Medical Examiner Usually no formal training At least two persons should make the notification

22. Death Notification Information is delivered:

23. Death Notification Procedures Make sure the deceased has been correctly identified Meet Face to Face with family Show proper Identification Prepare Family

24. Death Notification Procedures No fancy Jargon Tell only what has been reported Be compassionate Take time

25. Parents/Guardians Spouse or Next of kin Available relative Death Notification

26. Trauma Intervention Program Volunteers who assist victims in trauma TIP Program helps to prevent what mental health professionals call the �Second Injury.�� The Second Injury is a victim�s perspective that the emergency system did not provide the support needed after a tragic event.

27. Trauma Intervention Program Volunteers learn: What to say/What not to say Provide emotional support to family after death notification has been made Serve as liaison between family and emergency personnel Help with follow up services

29. Co-victims of Homicide Anyone who has lost a loved one to homicide!!!!!

30. Overview of Grief Grief is a process that is experienced after a traumatic event Grief affects behavior, thoughts and emotions

31. Normal Grief Reactions Rage Shock Fear and Anxiety Guilt Anger Confusion Numbness Tightness in the throat or chest Shortness of breath Sensitivity to loud noises

32. Normal Grief Reactions Bitterness Loneliness Helplessness Acknowledgement Resignation Despair Vengeance

33. Traumatic Grief Reactions Sudden, unexpected or violent Caused by the actions of another person, accident, suicide, homicide, other catastrophe Natural causes, but no history of illness

34. Traumatic Grief Reactions Intensity of reactions is heightened due to violence, suddenness and deliberateness of crime Unpredictability of murder

35. Intensity of emotions Loss of Loved One: Grief Death was result of purposeful act by someone else: Rage (Anger diminishes but often never disappears) Horrible thoughts of revenge: Guilt Questioning own safety- will perpetrator retaliate?: Fear Unbelievable Event: Numbness, apathy

36. Intensity of Emotions Was there suffering?: Terror Child disobeyed or took risks: Anger Stigma and social isolation: Grief (unresolved until negative view of social ties is modified) Friends expect healing to occur much faster: Frustration

37. Shattered Life Assumptions Good people have good things happen to them Laws are to protect law abiding citizens Safe communities and neighborhoods promote caring people Perceived control of life

38. Factors That Compound Grief No positive confirmation of the death or no physical body is recovered Complicated legal and financial affairs Role of the loved one in the family is lost Friends, family and society expect co-victim to �get over it� Murder remains unsolved

39. Anger Targets Murderer Criminal Justice System Police Dept Family/Friends Hospitals Society Media Victim

40. Disenfranchised Grief Grief that is denied or restricted by social pressure or other interference Victim was not considered innocent Victim was perpetrator of crime

41. Treatment Options Crisis Intervention Individual/Family Counseling Support Groups Remembrance Retreat

42. Fatality Review Board Collect, analyze and interpret data regarding homicide cases To gain useful knowledge to assist in the prevention of homicides Have access to all reports (medical, legal, autopsy, mental health) Solution Focused

43. Fatality Review Board Only review cases that are not pending in legal system No blame game, no pointing fingers at agencies that may have 'dropped the ball' Highlight areas that may need 'tweaking,' to head off potential problems

44. Fatality Review Board Law Enforcement Victim Oriented Agencies Mental Health Agencies Hospital / Medical Facilities All groups that serve identified clients Agencies who may have dealt with the victim and/or offender

45. References Friedman, R& James, J.W., (2000). Is It Ever To Soon To Recover?. Grief Recovery Institute Articles Gerberth, V. J. (1998) Practical Homicide InvestigationLAW and ORDER Magazine, Vol. 46 No. 112, November pp 51-54 Murgittroyd, Shari (2007). Survivors of Homicide Victims: A Complex Grieving Process. The Michigan Advocate. Article Page, Douglas (2008) Death Notification: Breaking the bad news. Law Enforcement Technology Rynearson, E. K. (2001). Retelling Violent Death. Taylor & Francis Group. Smith, M. D. & Zahn, M. A (1999) Homicide: A Sourcebook of Social Research. Sage Publications, Inc. Webb, N. B. (2004). Mass Trauma and Violence: Helping Families and Children Cope. Guilford Press California Youth Authority: Office of Prevention & Victims Services (2005). Death Notification Procedures for Correctional Personnel. Article . Technical Assistance Bulletin

46. Hand outs Nelson-Whitney, Frances Death Educator and sudden death trauma Trauma Intervention Program TIP �A Caring Presence� 2007 Anti- Violence Partnership (AVP) Families of Murder Victims (FMV) Self Care and Stress/ Grief and Murder What People should know about Homicide

47. Referral Sources National Center for victims of Crime: 1-800-394-2255 Family Violence Prevention Fund/Health Resource Center 1800-313-1310 Mothers Against Drunk Driving1-800-438-MADD (6233) National Resource Center on Domestic Violence1-800-537-2238 National Organization for Victim Assistance 1-800-879-6682