Research Syntheses

Homicide co-victims are people who have lost a loved one to homicide, including immediate family members, other relatives/kin, and friends of the murdered victim. About 1 in 10 Americans will lose a loved one to homicide during their lifetime, yet few services specifically address homicide co-victims’ needs. One promising exception is Restorative Retelling, a type of group therapy that has been successfully applied to address the psychological harms of homicide co-victims.

Quick summary – Research Brief

Interactive learning – Webinar, Webinar slides

Full synthesis – Research Report

Materials reviewed – Bibliography of Research and Practice Evidence

Fraud refers to crimes in which deceptive or false acts are committed for personal, typically financial, gain. Identity fraud is a subcategory in which personally identifying information of others (e.g., social security number, birthdate, credit card) is used to commit fraud. Millions of people in the US fall victim to identity theft and fraud every year, knowingly or unknowingly. The harms of identity fraud and other fraud include more than direct financial losses from the dollars stolen, and often coincide with other victimization experiences.

Quick summary –  Research Brief

Interactive learning – Webinar  and Webinar Slides

Full synthesis – Research Report

Materials reviewed – Bibliography of Research and Practice Evidence

Mass violence and terrorism victims, who include not only people who were injured or killed but also people who were present but not injured and family members of injured or deceased victims, may face a range of harms as a result of the event, including traumatic injuries; psychological harms such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and prolonged grief; and unexpected financial costs. Because of their inherently large scale, mass violence and terrorism events pose distinctive challenges for response and recovery. These incidents can overwhelm local communities’ response and victim assistance efforts and require a coordinated, cross-sector approach.

Interactive learning – Webinar and Webinar Slides

Full Synthesis – Research Report

Materials Reviewed – Bibliography of Research and Practice Evidence

Elder abuse encompasses a wide variety of behaviors that can cause harm and victimize older adults. Each year, approximately one in 10 community-residing older Americans are victims of some form of elder abuse—most commonly, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect by others. While there is a need for more research on what works in terms of elder abuse interventions, multidisciplinary teams, victim support groups, and counseling are seen as promising.

Quick summary – Research Brief

Interactive learning – Webinar

Full synthesis – Research Report

Materials reviewed – Bibliography of Research and Practice Evidence