Impact On Families

• impact of crime on families - poor mental health

  Families of victims may experience poor mental health Seeing their loved ones being victims of crime can lead to negative psychological consequences for families such as depression and stress. The family of the victim may suffer bereavement which can lead to them seeking counselling in order to achieve closure. For example, the father of murdered Glasgow schoolgirl Paige Doherty, is said to have died of a ‘broken heart’ in 2018 as he never came to terms with the death of his daughter.
• impact of crime on families - financial impact

  Families of victims may experience a financial impact The unexpected loss of a family member can financially impact the family of the victims as they have to pay for funeral costs. This can be very expensive if the person does not have any savings, and they may feel guilty because they want to give the victim a funeral they would deserve. GoFundMe pages were set up after the murder of Alesha MacPhail in support of the family.
• impact of crime on families - breakdown of relationships

  Families of perpetrators could face a breakdown of relationships If a member of a family has committed a crime and is in prison, this can lead to the breakdown of family relationships as the perpetrator will miss special events such as birthdays which could lead to a poorer relationships within families. If families loved one is missing from the family home the family can experience sadness. For example, The Scottish Government estimate that approximately 20,000 children in Scotland experience the imprisonment of a parent every year.