SYSTEM INFLUENCES ON POSTHOMICIDE BELIEFS AND DISTRESS

Criminal justice system experiences in 150 family members of homicide victims were investigated. The study had two goals: (a) to document th e experiences of homicide survivors in the criminal justice system inc luding case outcomes, criminal justice system activities, and satisfac tion with system personnel; and (b) to determine if experiences with t he police impacted posthomicide beliefs (cognitive assumptions about t he world and one's relationship to it) and psychological distress. The sample, which was identified through the Medical Examiner's Office, w as drawn from all criminal homicides from 1.5 to 5 years prior to sele ction. Results showed that family members of homicide victims were ver y dissatisfied with their experiences in the criminal justice system. Additionally, whereas objective system outcomes (e.g. arrest) did not directly affect posthomicide beliefs and distress, subjective system o utcomes (e.g., police satisfaction) directly affected beliefs and indi rectly affected distress. There was some support for both equity theor y and a cognitive theory of change the two theories that guided the mo del specification.