Families of homicide victims speak: An examination of perceptions of the criminal justice system and capital punishment

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this project was to examine the sentiments of murdered victim's families where the offender received the death penalty. Specifically, the research aimed to explore their experiences with the criminal justice system and how these experiences shape their views of the death penalty. There were twenty-three participants who were interviewed about a variety of issues such as experiences with criminal justice system administrators, perceptions of secondary victimization, Restorative Justice, forgiveness, closure, and opinions of the death penalty.

Findings and Conclusions: The data support the conceptual model for this project. Due to the initial victimization, a due process model of the criminal justice system is enacted. Because this type of system caters more to the offender, perceptions of secondary victimization build within the family members. As this occurs, family members become more punitive in their ideas about what should happen to the offender and how he should be treated within the criminal justice system. This punitive ideology continues throughout the whole process which, in turn, leads to a decreased willingness to dialogue with the offender about why the crime occurred. Finally, this leads to an increase in the support of capital punishment. All respondents supported the death penalty. Interestingly, all indicate they did so even before the murder happened. However, it seems that as the lengthy process continues, the more retributive many become; hence leading to increased levels of punitive emotions.