Families coping with elder-homocide in rural Jamaica: Voices for the development of victim services and crime prevention.
Item
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Title
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Families coping with elder-homocide in rural Jamaica: Voices for the development of victim services and crime prevention.
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Identifier
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AAI9917675
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identifier
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9917675
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Creator
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Mahoney, Annette May.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Irwin Epstein
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Date
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1999
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare | Gerontology | Sociology, Criminology and Penology | Sociology, Individual and Family Studies
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Abstract
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Despite the well documented extent of crime and violence in Jamaica, to date, there has been little or no empirical attention on the impact of violent assaults, such as murder, on surviving kin. Little is known about the coping strategies of survivors and the factors that might mitigate the impact of such assaults. Yet, the reality of homicide has been variously described as creating enormous emotional, social, and economic costs for victims' families.;This exploratory study uses qualitative methods to investigate the sequelae to elder-homicide in rural Jamaica. It explores how families of victims cope; societal support for trauma resolution; resources that survivors would have utilized if they were available, and further explores survivors' views as to how to prevent future cases of elder-homicide in their communities.;The field work for this study was conducted in three rural parishes in Jamaica. Using a quasi-variation sampling strategy, a non-probability sample of 24 was selected---8 from each parish site representing a total of 16 elderly victims of homicide. Qualitative analysis of data generated through the interview process yielded rich descriptive data which were used to draw conclusions, make inferences and strengthen the interpretation process.;A major theme that emerged from the study findings is the need for a wide array of medical, mental health, legal, monetary and other social service interventions. The dominant core survival symbols of religion, family and friends are viewed as being unable to help survivors fully recover from the murder of their loved ones. Two to three years after the incident occurred, many survivors displayed significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psycho-social impairment, yet mental health and other forms of support were, in general, unavailable to them.;Another emerging theme is the role of justice as a mediating factor in survivors' recovery. Most survivors view the criminal justice system as "unresponsive to their needs for justice and security".;These and other themes formed the basis for the development of a framework from which to address the establishment of victim services and make recommendations for preventing future cases of elder-homicide in rural Jamaica.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
