Murder is the willful and unlawful killing of one human being by another. Whatever the circumstances, the act of murder affects many more people than just the victim. Issues related to murder include fear, navigating the legal system, and the victim's family members having little or no voice, often with their lives on hold as the criminal case unfolds. Family members are considered to be co-victims or survivors.

The loss of human life by murder inflicts enormous grief on the co-victims and survivors and is highly detrimental to the social order of communities. It is not uncommon for as many as 10 people to be seriously affected by each loss; thus, the estimated 15,240 murders in the United States in 2009 had the potential for affecting ...