530 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 380 Wethersfield, CT
 
 













Advocacy on the behalf of survivors is a major goal of Survivors of Homicide. 
We seek to:

  • Redress the imbalance in judicial practice between the rights of the accused and the rights of victims of crime. As one small step toward this end, we seek legal recognition that victims and homicide survivors have a legitimate interest in the progress and outcome of the State's case against the accused: they and their lawyers should have full access to all court proceedings and to meetings between the defense and the prosecution in judges' chambers.

  • Require judges in murder and manslaughter cases to post a picture of the victim, provided by their family, within the sight of all members of the jury while the trial is in progress.

  • Provide better compensation for victims of crime. Specifically, we seek low or no interest loan funds for families who have lost a family member who was a primary wage earner to homicide or manslaughter, and relief for those families from property tax penalties for five years.

  • Require municipal police to treat any missing child under 16 not as a "runaway" but as a "missing person."

  • Provide protection against dismissal from employment and other job-related sanctions, for any victim/survivor who attends a case-related trial during work hours.

  • Provide compensation for victims and survivors for costs they incur in attending trials or court hearings.

  • Eliminate the statute of limitations on wrongful death suits against people convicted of murder or manslaughter. Impose a limit of three years on the right of anyone convicted of murder or manslaughter to file a habeas corpus motion without presenting new material evidence not available at the time of the sentence. After that period has elapsed, allow the court to order the return of personal property seized as evidence to victims and survivors, and to order the destruction of other evidence.

  • Pass a National Victim Rights Amendment to the Federal Constitution.

    Survivors of Homicide, Inc. featured on the February 26, 2009 episode of "These Days" with Barb Keidel. 

                                           

     

                                

         
                                                                                             

    Mary Pellicci Hamilton advocating for sensible gun control legislation.

    Rally in Cheshire concerning a "Three Strikes Bill." (Photos courtesy of the Hartford Courant)

              

    Some of our Membership at a Rally in Cheshire         James Papillo advocating for a
    CT that proposed a "Three Strikes Bill" for               "Three Strikes Bill."
    Connecticut.

                                  

    Audrey Carlson speaking with Dr. William Petit. 

              

    The Barrett Family who are still looking for answers           SOH members signing the petition to institute a
    in their daughter, Kathy's murder.                                          "Three Strikes Bill" in Connecticut.