Homicide bereavement: A family affair

Murder of a loved one typically has a tremendous impact on the family as a whole and on individual members. While it is true people often react in very similar ways following such a traumatic loss, they do not necessarily grieve in the same way or at the same time. Additionally, the murder may have a detrimental effect on the stability, developmental tasks, communication patterns, and role functioning of the family. This paper explores some of the many issues and challenges families must face in the aftermath of a murder.