It goes without saying that any person who commits murder or any crime should be brought to justice. The family and loved ones of the victim(s) deserve closure, sympathy and justice. This site is not intended to dispute that in any way.
When a murder or any crime is committed, there are two sets of victims, the family and loved ones of the victim, and the family and loved ones of the convicted.
This organization has been created to bring awareness and perhaps an understanding to the other set of victim(s) created when a crime is committed. The family and loved ones of the convicted or the accused are the "Forgotten Victims" or "Silent Victims".
Some of these families may be in a situation where the family member arrested or convicted has killed or assaulted one or more of the family members, making them both set of victims. Having a family member killed by another family member is a situation that most cannot begin to comprehend.
"When a crime is committed some are both sets of victims, being torn by the love for the family member and the need for justice for the murdered or assaulted family member"
The struggles that the family and loved ones of the convicted face are unique and difficult. There are no help lines to call or any pamphlets to get from the state or government explaining what to expect. There is no psychological counseling. There is no financial assistance. There are very few organizations to this day that assist or offer support to the families of the convicted. In many cases, the children of the convicted are just passed from one family to the next and rejected by all. Forcing them to either be placed in an orphanage or to grow up on the streets. Spouses and children are left without any support. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends are suddenly faced with the legal system and all the complications without any direction or knowledge of what to expect. There are many financial and psychological issues that these families face with no state or government assistance. They are not recognized as victims of the crime.
They are often called "silent" or "forgotten" victims.
In a very large number of cases the courts ban them from the legal proceedings. When they are allowed to go to the legal proceedings, they are treated as if they committed the crime, or that they may be a danger to the family and loved ones of the victims. In many cases the communities shun them and treat them as if they are responsible for the crime. Sometimes, their own families reject them. In many cases, the families' of the victim hold the families' of the convicted responsible for the crime. Many do not understand the legal system and do not know what to do or say. Some fear for their lives. There are many psychological issues that take place. The families of the convicted often feel responsible in some way. Some may want to help but feel helpless to help. Some are just so traumatized they just want to hide away and not speak to anyone.
The person arrested or convicted may be the person they depended on for survival and now they are homeless.
When a crime is committed, especially brutal crimes, where one is accused and/or convicted, the media and the public will focus on the families of those accused and/or convicted. We have seen it time and time again where the media and the public will stake out these families homes, treating them as if they committed the crime. Many times, revenge and hatred is directed towards them, among other horrible acts. The families of the accused and/or convicted are in shock that their family member might be or is involved in something so terrible. They are innocent bystanders and are experiencing many of the same emotions that the victim(s) families are experiencing.