Helping Victims

Most people do not know what to do or say or are afraid to do or say the wrong thing so they do and say nothing. Unfortunately, this usually intensifies the feelings of isolation & alienation that many victims feel.

Victim Assistance Funds are critical.

The emotional & financial impact of losing a loved one to homicide can be devastating. Although the immediate need of help with funeral expenses is urgent for many, there are additional financial needs that greatly impact survivors. Most survivors experience a loss of income while not being able to work due to trauma, time off to make arrangements, deal with legal issues, meet with detectives & prosecutors, and attend court hearings and trial.

We depend entirely on donations & fundraising for our Victim Assistance Fund. Our Victim Fund depends on our fundraising efforts and contributions to help families with costs associated with attending hearings & trials. These funds help with expenses such as: food, parking, transportation, airfare, hotel rooms, etc. to enable families to participate in the criminal justice process. Most people assume the government covers these costs for victims, it doesn’t. The government only provides for witnesses & defendants. Victims are on their own. Although Victim Rights Laws provide victims the “right” to attend the trial, they do not provide any means to do so. Without our help, many victims would not be able to afford to attend the trial or sentencing. Your help can make a huge difference.

Methods anyone can employ to help survivors of homicide:

• Allow survivors to grieve in whatever manner they wish and for as long as they wish.

• Allow survivors to cry freely. It is a healthy expression of grief and releases tensions.

• Allow survivors to talk about and personalize the victim. Let him or her tell you about the

victim, his or her life and the murder. Allow the survivor to criticize the victim and to talk about the good times and the bad times.

• Allow survivors to get angry at you, the criminal justice system, the criminal, the victim, or simply the unfairness of life. Anger needs to be expressed.

• Remember the survivors at holiday times, on the anniversary date of the murder and the victim's birthday. Let the survivors know you remember, too.

• Allow the survivors some occasional "time out" from day-to-day pressures. If possible, offer to help with the children, a day off work, a day out of the house, etc.

• Reassure the survivors that the murder was neither their fault, nor the victim's fault.

• Tell survivors that you are sorry the murder happened and it is horrible that someone they loved was killed.

• Support survivors in their efforts to reconstruct a life, even if it means a major change in lifestyle.

• Let survivors know that you will remain their friend and they mean a great deal to you.

For more ways you can help those who have lost a loved one, see below:
» Help Victims, Support our program
» Become a Sponsor
» Cemetery Plot Donor Program
» Helpful Things to Do
» How Society Reacts to Survivors of Homicide
» Is There Anything I Can Do To Help?
» Problems of Survivors
» Suggestions for helping Survivors of Homicide Victims
» Common Myths Surrounding Homicide

(Under Construction- Call the HSI Office for assistance)