Barriers to access

Navigating information about rights and available supports within the criminal justice system presents a significant challenge for many Black survivors of gun violence and homicide loss, particularly given that information is not always proactively provided, a practice rooted in important considerations around victim privacy and trauma-informed care, including the recognition that unsolicited information can itself be retraumatizing (Illingworth & Ferrera, 2021). Nevertheless, this approach can place a considerable burden of navigation on survivors already managing acute trauma, grief, and systemic distrust, underscoring the need for flexible, survivor-led models of information sharing that are responsive to individual needs and circumstances. Research with Black survivors of homicide loss further suggests that access to service providers who share survivors’ cultural backgrounds or possess a strong understanding of Black cultural experiences can be critical to engagement and healing (Sharpe, Aqil, et al., 2024). It is well established in homicide literature that grief is deeply influenced by cultural values, spiritual beliefs, family structures, and community traditions (Sharpe, 2008). Therefore, supports are often less effective when providers lack an appreciation of these cultural dimensions of mourning and recovery. As a result, culturally responsive and culturally informed services should be understood as a fundamental component of equitable access for Black survivors of gun violence and homicide loss.